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PRINCETON,    N.  J. 


Purchased  by  the  Hammill   Missionary  Fund 

BX  9225  .S39  A3  1893 
Sherwood,  Elisha  Barber, 

1810-1905. 
Fifty  years  on  the  skirmish 

line 

Number 


't::^tu^\u<.  r^.  5  lUvi 


Ihc-Hh  tA^ 


Fifty  Years  On  The 
Skirmish  Line. 


BY 

REV.    ELISHA    B.  *  SHERWOOD,  D.    u. 

President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Park  College. 
INTRODUCTION    BY    REV.   GEO.     P.    HAYS,      D.    D.    LL.D. 


Fleming  H.  Revell  Company, 

CHICAGO:  I  NEW  YORK: 

148  and  150  Madison  St.         |  112  Fifth  Avenue. 

Publishers  of  Evangelical  Literature, 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1893,  by  Fleming 
H.  Revell  Company,  in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  congress  at 
Washington.     All  rights  reservea. 


PREFACE. 

This  book  is  not  meant  as  a  display  of  what  has 
been   called    "autobiographical     egotism."      It    is 
intended  for  a   tribute    to    the    amazing  grace    of 
God  working  through  me  as  His  servant.      It    was 
verily  a  place  on  the  "Skirmish  Line"  to   which    I 
was  appointed,  and  for  more  than  fifty  years  work 
has  pressed  upon  me  and  God  has   blessed   me    in 
doing  it.     There  are   many   still   living    in    whose 
memories    the   events   here   recorded    are     fresh; 
they  may  be  helped   by   the   telling  of  the  story. 
My  recent  years  have  thrown  me  into  close  connec- 
tion with  a  large  body   of  young   people   who   are 
entering  upon  life.     If  this  book  shall  teach  them 
courage  and  confidence   in    God,  and   make   them 
more  efficient  soul-winners,  it  will  well   repay  the 
labor  of  its  preparation.   Already  in  my  eighty-third 
year,  the  call  to  a  higher  service   cannot   be    long 
delayed.     All  this  earth-Hfe  has  been  worth  while. 
Souls  are  worth   winning.     The   Gospel   is   worth 
preaching.      It  is  worth  while   to   labor   tirelessly. 
The  nearer  one  gets  to   the  throne   the   less   one 
counts  the   hardness  which   a  good  soldier  must 
endure. 


PREFACE 

The  manuscript  was  read  and  the  proofs  were 
revised  by  my  young  friend,  Rev.  Cleland  B.  Mc- 
Afee, Professor  of  Mental  and  Moral  Science  in 
Park  College.  This  assistance,  with  that  rendered 
so  kindly  by  others,  is  very  gratefully  acknowledged. 

Elisha  B.  Sherwood. 
St.  Joseph  Mo.,  June  30th,  1893. 


9 


13 


CONTENTS 

Introduction 

CHAPTER  I. 
Parentage  and  Youth 

CHAPTER  n. 
Student  Life 21 

CHAPTER  HI. 
Work  in  Western  New  York 30 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Central  New  York 68 

CHAPTER  V. 
Work  in  Michigan , gg 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Work  in  Missouri 106 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Park  College  and  my  Relations  to  It iqc 

SERMON   I..... 219 

SERMON   II 236 

SERMON   HI 246 

APPENDIX 

-^ji 


INTRODUCTION. 

Biographies  are  generally  written  of  people 
whose  record  is  remarkable.  Most  of  us  have  not 
had  remarkable  histories.  To  some  extent  this  is 
due  to  providential  facts.  We  were  not  given  re- 
markable talents,  and  have  not  exercised  any  re- 
markable diligence  nor  self-sacrifice.  Success  is 
often  due  to  opportunity.  Sometimes  success  is 
forced  by  ability  to  make  opportunities.  Our 
part  is  to  improve  by  wise  use  such  opportunities 
as  Providence  allots  to  us.  We  are  not  held 
responsible  for  the  employment  of  such  things  as 
Providence  has  seen  fit  to  withhold  from  us;  thogh 
others  may  have  them.  We  have  here  a  biography 
of  one  whose  opportunities  were  those  of  common 
men.  That  he  did  a  great  work,  was  due  to  special 
activity  in  making  effective  use  of  daily  opportuni- 
ties. It  is  not  an  easy  thing  to  be  content  with 
common  life,  and  set  ourselves  to  make  it  great  by 
the  greatness  of  the  results.  But  greatness  is  not 
an  absolute  quality  to  be  measured  by  the  yard- 
stick like  a  man's  stature.  Greatness  is  a  com- 
parison between  opportunity  and  attainment.  Gen. 
Scott  was  developed  by  the  war  of  1812,  and  Gen. 


lo  F'ifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

Grant  by  the  war  of  1861.  There  may  have  been 
great  generals  between  times,  but,  thank  God,  there 
were  no  wars.  There  are  always  sinners  and  mis- 
sion fields  and  conversions  and  preachers.  Adap- 
tation to  the  work  at  hand,,  enables  an  earnest 
man  to  do  a  great  work  in  any  community.  Dr. 
Sherwood  succeeded  in  New  York,  very  much  as 
he  did  in  Missouri. 

Circumstances  change  and  fields  have  their  pecu- 
liarities; but  human  nature  and  divine  grace  do 
not  materially  vary. 

I  like  to  read  of  these  lives  which  are  spent  in 
steady  work.  We  cannot  all  be  pioneer  foreign 
missionaries  like  Carey,  nor  pioneer  home  mis- 
sionaries like  Sherwood;  for  foreign  missions  have 
been  reduced  to  a  system,  the  Bible  is  being  rapidly 
translated  into  all  languages,  and  there  is  no  longer 
any  Great  American  Desert,  nor  fartherdest  border 
frontier  in  the  West. 

The  work  now  is  building  up  the  Churches  these 
pioneers  have  planted,  and  watching  new  fields 
grow  up  between  the  towns.  To  compact  and 
energize  churches  and  presbyteries — to  educate 
and  guide  growing  Christians — to  encourage  needed 
churches  and  discourage  numerous  needless  enter- 
prises; and  all  this  without  offending  unwise  good 
people,  will  require  as  much  tact  as  did  the  early 
tasks.     But  the  study  of  the    difficulties    of   these 


Introduction  1 1 


early  tasks,  and  a  re-survey  of  the  way  these 
difficulties  were  overcome,  will  fit  us  for  a  careful 
estimate  of  the  real  perplexities  of  our  own  times, 
and  will  suggest  good  plans  of  applying  the  gospel 
to  modern  problems. 

The  high  esteem  in  which  Brother  Sherwood 
is  held  by  his  brethren  is  justified  by  his  record, 
and  is  explained  here  to  those  who  have  not  known 
his  early  work  of  laying  foundations.  This  book 
will  teach  its  readers  to  value  aright  the  labors  of 
the  early  workers-— to  love  their  Church  as  admir- 
ably adapted  to  pioneer  work,  and  capable  of  evan- 
gelizing the  most  unpromising  fields  of  any  country 
or  city.  Presbyterianism  is  sometimes  disparaged 
as  unsuitable  to  hard  places.  So  it  is,  for  as  soon 
as  it  comes  into  a  hard  place  the  place  begins  to 
improve,  and  if  Presbyterianism  continues  to  work, 
the  field  becomes  attractive.  Then  those  who 
forget  the  transformation  which  has  been  wrought, 
wonder  why  Presbyterians  always  pick  out  such 
good  fields.  Readers  here  will  find  that  the  good- 
ness of  the  field  is  the  result  of  the  work.  The 
fields  were  discouraging  enough  when  the  work  was 
begun,  but  the  reward  of  the  toil  was  manifest 
in  the  Garden  of  the  Lord. 

We  cannot  read  of  those  early  revivals  without 
wishing  to  see  them  once  more.  But  it  may  be 
true,  that  in  that  day  of  few  churches  or  preachers, 


12  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

amid  sparse  populations,  more  serious  young  people 
came  to  years  of  maturity  unconverted,  than  are 
to  be  found  in  these  days  of  Sabbath  Schools, 
Young  People's  Endeavor  Societies  and  regular 
means  of  grace.  The  children's  sacraments  of 
circumcision  and  baptism  would  indicate  that 
God's  plan  for  His  church  in  settled  times  was 
always  for  family  religion  descending  through  the 
generations.  The  woodsmen  had  fine  times  cut- 
ting down  big  trees,  and  blasting  out  big  rocks. 
It  took  more  strength  and  skill  to  plow  among  old 
stumps  and  stones,  than  it  does  to  cut  a  clean  fur- 
row quite  across  a  cultivated  field;  but  there  may 
be  better  crops  in  this  latter  case.  It  is  the 
resulting  crop  of  ripened  grain  that  we  seek;  and 
if  God  gives  that  by  dews  and  showers  and  sun- 
shine, we  may  well  be  content  if  there  are  not 
thunder-storms  and  floods.  Nevertheless  we  pre- 
fer to  read  of  the  great  motions  of  the  heavens, 
and  we  long  to  see  the  spiritual  heavens  all  flash- 
ing with  the  lightning  of  the  divine  power. 

So  this  book  should  have  interest,  instruction, 
and  encouragement  for  all.  May  God  raise  up 
more  men  with  such  a  personal  histor}^  and  such 
experiences  of  good  seed-sowing. 

Geo.  P.  Hays, 
2nd  Pres.  Church,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


FIFTY  YEARS  ON 

THE  SKIRMISH  LINE 

CHAPTER  I. 

PARENTAGE  AND  YOUTH. 

As  I  began  my  theological  studies  in  1835  I 
dropped  into  diary  writing  and  in  years  that  have 
intervened  have  filled  some  two  hundred  and 
seventy  pages  of  foolscap  with  the  events  and  items 
that  I  have  noted  from  day  to  day  and  from  year 
to  year,  therefore  I  believe  that  I  can  better 
arrange  these  facts  and  give  to  my  friends  a  more 
satisfactory  record  than  any  one  coming  after   me. 

I  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Franklin  county,  Ver- 
mont, on  the  15th  of  April,  18 10.  My  parents 
were  John  Sherwood,  son  of  Nathan  Sherwood  and 
Joanna  Noble.  My  mother  was  Lucy  Barber, 
daughter  of  Judge  Elisha  Barber,  and  Elizabeth 
Adams.  In  February,  181 5,  my  parents  removed 
to  Phelps,  Ontario  Co,  N.  Y.,  where  my  father 
purchased  a  farm  near  the  village  of  Orleans.  It 
was   here   in  my  seventh  year  that  I  received    my 

first  religious  impressions.     I  had  with   neighbor- 

13 


14  F^ipy  y^dfs  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

ing  boys  spent  the  Sabbath  at  Clifton  Springs. 
On  returning  home  my  mother  took  me  to  her 
room  and  inquired  where  I  had  spent  the  Sabbath. 
I  told  her  about  our  visit  to  the  springs.  She  told 
me  1  had  been  a  naughty  boy  and  sinned  against 
God.  I  asked  her  why  I  could  not  do  as  other 
boys  did.  Her  answer  was,  "You  are  God's  child. 
The  first  time  I  attended  church  after  your  birth 
I  took  you  with  me  and  gave  you  to  God  and  you 
were  baptised  as  God's  child  by  my  minister  in 
the  name  of  the  Father  and  the  Son  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  you  are  God's  child.  You  must  not 
sin  against  Him  again."  This  instruction  gave  me 
an  understanding  of  my  relation  to  God  and  has 
exercised  a  controlling  influence  upon  my  life.  It 
led  me  to  my  Savior  and  into  the  ministry,  and 
has  imparted  to  me  a  moral  courage  that  has  sus- 
tained me  in  a  ministry  of  more  than  fifty  years. 

In  the  winter  of  1819,  my  father  exchanged  the 
property  he  had  in  Phelps  for  uncultivated  lands 
in  what  was  then  known  as  the  Genesee  Country, 
which  very  soon  became  Orleans  County.  The 
country  was  dotted  with  here  and  there  a  settle- 
ment. Log  school  houses  were  the  only  public 
buildings  for  schools  and  religious  meetings.  One 
day  the  Rev.  Alanson  Darwin,  a  Presbyterian 
minister  from  Riga,  Monroe  County,  N.  Y. ,  whose 
heart  was  stirred  within  him  to  do   something  for 


Parentage  and  Youth  15* 

the  good  of  the  scattered  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  rode  up  to  our  door;  and  said  he 
would  preach  to  the  people  of  that  settlement,  if 
there  was  a  house  whose  doors  were  open  for  such 
objects.  My  mother  told  him  her  house  was  at 
his  service;  furthermore,  she  would  send  her  boys 
out,  and  invite  the  people  to  come  and  hear  the 
stranger.  Then  and  there  commenced  my  home 
missionary  work.  I  little  thought  it  was  the  first 
lesson  in  what  was  to  be  the  greater  part  of  my 
life's  work. 

My  advantages  for  education  until  I  was  sixteen 
years  old,  were  such  as  the  new  settlements  could 
provide,  and  log  school  houses  furnished.  In  1826 
our  school  district  erected  a  frame  school  house, 
which  was  used  for  religious  meetings,  as  well  as 
for  schools.  With  a  better  school  house,  we  had 
better  school  teachers,  of  whom  I  could  avail  my- 
self four  months  each  year.  The  remaining  months 
were  given  to  work  on  the  new  farm.  Six  months 
of  my  eighteenth  year  I  attended  the  Gaines  High 
School  taught  by  a  Mr.  Gazley,  who  did  for  the 
youth  of  Orleans  county  a  great  and  good  work.  It 
was  in  these  months  my  desire  was  awakened  for 
an  education.  The  next  winter  I  taught  a  district 
school  in  the  western  portion  of  our  township. 
Here  I  learned  the  truth  of  that  old  saw,  "A  little 
learning  is  a  dangerous  thing." 


i6  ^if^y  y^ci^s  071  the  Skirfnish  Line 

The  winter  of  1830,  I  again  attended  Gaines 
High  School.  The  following  winter,  I  taught  the 
west  Gaines  district  school.  It  was  a  pleasant 
community,  but  filled  with  lovers  of  vain  amuse- 
ments. I  entered  into  a  full  participation  of  these 
pleasures,  until  about  the  middle  of  Febuary,  1831. 
On  returning  home  on  Saturday  evening,  I  found 
a  revival  of  religion  in  progress  in  the  church  and 
community.  Two  of  my  sisters  and  two  younger 
brothers  had  experienced  a  great  change.  They 
had  give  themselves  to  Christ  and  his  work.  They 
had  found  a  Savior.  These  facts  troubled  me.  I 
attended  the  meeting  that  night.  What  I  saw  and 
heard  troubled  me  more.  I  bore  up  under  my 
feelings  as  best  I  could,  over  the  Sabbath.  I 
made  my  arrangements  to  leave  early  for  my 
school,  on  Monday  morning.  As  I  was  about 
leaving,  I  met  my  dear  mother  whose  eyes  were 
red  with  weeping.  I  would  have  avoided  her,  if 
there  had  been  any  way,  but  I  saw  it  was  of  no  use 
to  try.  She  took  me  by  the  hand  lest  I  might  slip 
away  from  her.  I  listened  to  her  tearful  words. 
She  pressed  me  to  attend  to  the  one  thing  needful, 
then  and  there.  I  said:  "Mother,  I  have  an  en- 
gagement to  attend  a  dancing  party  this  week.  I 
cannot  break  it."  As  we  parted  that  morning,  she 
remarked,  "If  you  will  dance,  remember  that  I 
shall  pray  for  you."     Her  prayers   took   all   the 


Parentage  and  Youth  17 

pleasure  out  of  that  dance,  and  made  me  loathe 
the  whole  thing.  Then  and  there,  I  lost  all  love 
or  desire  for  the  dance  hall.  During  that  week 
my  mind  often  recurred  to  what  might  be  going  on 
in  that  revival  service  of  religion.  On  returning 
home  the  next  Saturday  night,  I  found  the  revival 
widening  and  deepening  I  went  with  the  family 
to  the  meeting,  I  had  a  seat  beside  a  young 
friend.  As  the  minister  announced  the  order  of 
the  meeting,  I  whispered  to  my  friend:  "They 
will  not  convert  any  one  to  night,  for  they  have 
gone  to  work  by  the  square  rule."  The  meeting 
proceeded  as  announced  by  the  minister.  He 
offered  what  was  to  be  the  closing  prayer.  But 
it  was  not  to  be  the  close  of  that  meeting.  As  he 
closed,  the  Holy  Spirit  moved  my  brother  Guy  to 
follow  in  prayer,  that  was  indited  of  the  Spirit, 
who  gave  him  such  utterance  that  all  felt  that  he 
was  taught  of  God.  That  prayer  went  through  me 
like  a  shock  of  electricity.  Before  he  closed,  I 
was  as  helpless  as  an  infant  child.  I  could  not  sit 
on  the  seat,  and  lay  down  upon  it.  At  the  close 
of  my  brother's  prayer  Elder  Chester  Frost  came 
to  me  and  taking  me  by  the  hand,  asked  me  if  he 
should  pray  for  me.  I  said  "Yes."  He  knelt  beside 
the  seat.  I  fell  from  the  seat  and  dropped  on  my 
knees,  and  gave  myself  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
to  be  his  servant.     The  next  morning  I  heard  for 


1 8  ^tf^y  y^ars  on  the  Skirjnish  Line 

the  first  time  with  an  understanding  heart  the 
blessed  gospel  from  a  strange  minister.  Old  things 
had  passed  away  and  all  were  new  to  me.  I  had 
passed  from  darkness  into  light,  from  death  in  sin, 
to  a  new  life  in  Christ  Jesus. 

On  Monday  morning  I  returned  to  my  school 
which  was  near  its  close  and  finished  the  term  and 
returned  with  great  delight  to  the  revival  meetings. 
Everything  was  new  to  me.  I  saw  men  as  trees 
walking.  I  remained  in  that  state  for  a  number 
of  days.  I  had  taken  my  stand  for  Christ;  but  I 
had  not  the  witness  of  my  acceptance.  One  day 
I  was  in  the  grain  barn  at  work.  There  was  a 
pause  for  some  time  in  the  business  of  the  hour. 
I  stepped  back  into  a  retired  part  of  the  barn, 
leaned  up  against  the  side,  and  uttered  in  a  whis- 
per tone,  "O  Lord  Jesus!  So  reveal  thyself  to  me 
that  I  may  know  thou  hast  accepted  the  consecra- 
tion I  have  made  of  myself  to  thee."  While  I  was 
praying,  the  Holy  Ghost  was  shed  abroad  in  my 
heart  until  I  was  filled  with  joy.  I  began  to  praise 
God  in  song  and  sang  everything  I  could  call  to 
remembrance.  "Jesus  all  the  day  long  was  the 
joy  of  my  song."  From  that  hour  I  have  never 
doubted  that  God  heard  and  answered  my  prayer. 
Another  thing  I  never  doubted,  that  the  soul  who 
does  receive,  believe  and  confess  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  is  "sealed  by    the    Holy    Spirit    of  promise 


Parentage  and  Youth  19 

which  is  the  earnest  of  our  inheritance  until  the 
redemption  of  the  purchased  possession."  From 
that  blest  moment  when  I  felt  the  sealing  witness 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  me,  I  was  deeply  impressed 
with  the  awful  condition  of  those  who  are  living 
without  God  and  without  hope.  Then  came  home 
to  me  my  duty  to  rescue  the  perishing  and  to  seek 
and  save  the  lost.  I  then  asked  God  to  use  me  in 
that  work  and  in  this  way  permit  me  to  undo  some 
of  the  evil  of  my  sinful  life. 

I  lost  my  interest  in  the  farm  and  business  gen- 
erally. No  place  was  so  enjoyable  to  me  as  the 
one  where  sinners  were  repenting  and  turning  to 
the  Lord,  seeking  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  I 
united  with  the  church  at  Millville,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
first  Sabbath  in  April,  1831,  with  three  of  my 
sisters  and  three  of  my  brothers,  What  a  joy  to 
our  dear  mother  to  know  that  her  prayers  had  been 
heard  for  her  children,  and  that  she  was  permitted 
to  see  them  at  that  April  communion  season,  con- 
fessing Christ  before  their  associates!  I  continued 
on  the  farm  with  father  and  my  brothers;  each 
brother  had  his  specific  work  Mine  was  breaking 
fallow  ground.  This  year  my  work  was  on  one 
of  the  out  farms,  and  near  a  grove  of  timber.  In 
the  timber  there  was  a  quiet  retreat  to  which  I  was 
wont  to  retire,  while  my  team  was  resting.  In 
that  wooded  retreat  my  hfe  work  was  settled.     At 


20  ^^f^y   y^'Cf'f'S  on  the  Skir?7nsh  Line 

evening  I  found  a  closet  in  the  grain  barn.  Both 
became  hallowed  to  me.  In  them  I  experienced 
that  transforming  power  which  was  making  me  a 
new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus.  The  busy  season 
on  the  farm  was  over,  the  question  for  the  future 
came  up  for  settlement.  The  Holy  Spirit  wit- 
nessed with  my  spirit  that  I  must  leave  the  farm 
and  give  myself  to  a  preparation  to  preach  the 
gospel.  This  was  strongly  opposed  by  my  father 
and  a  large  circle  of  relatives.  My  mother  en- 
couraged me  to  follow  my  convictions  of  duty. 

My  father  offered  me  an  out  farm  of  80  acres  of 
choice  land  under  good  improvement  if  1  would 
stay  with  him  and  help  him  locate  the  other 
brothers  as  they  came  to  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years.  I  thanked  him  for  his  offer  but  assured 
him  duty  pointed  to  the  ministry.  He  said  I 
must  throw  myself  on  my  own  resources.  I  tried 
to  throw  myself  upon  God's  promises.  A  good 
school  opened  to  me  for  the  winter.  I  taught  it. 
At  the  close  of  that  school  I  gathered  what  re- 
sources I  could  and  prepared  to  leave  all  and 
follow  where  duty  led. 


CHAPTER  II. 

STUDENT  LIFE. 

In  the  fall  of  1831,  there  was  opened  in  the  city 
of  Rochester,  N.  Y. ,  a  manual  labor  school  where 
young  men,  by  three  or  four  hours  labor  per  day, 
could  pay  their  board.  Tuition  was  provided 
for  by  the  benevolence  of  some  gentlemen  in  the 
city.  Thrown  upon  my  own  resources,  I  had  to 
find  a  school  where  I  could  pay  expenses.  I  was 
cordially  received  into  the  Manual  Labor  School. 
My  department  of  labor  was  making  flour  barrels, 
which  I  took  to  very  quickly.  My  studies  were 
the  Latin  Grammar  and  Reader,  Algebra  and  Eng- 
lish branches.  The  Rev.  Dr.  William  Wisner 
was  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian, 
afterward  known  as  the  Brick  Church.  This 
church  was  the  home  of  most  of  the  students,  and 
there  I  put  my  church  letter  and  joined  its 
Sabbath  School.  I  was  very  soon  invited  to  be- 
come a  teacher  in  a  colored  Sabbath  School. 
They  gave  me  a  class  of  boys  in  whom  I  took  much 
pleasure.    Our  Manual  Labor  School  ran  along  very 

pleasantly  until  that  dreaded  scourge,   the  Asiatic 

21 


22  Pifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 


cholera,  made  its  appearance  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember,   when    the    school  was    scattered.      I    left 
Rochester  for  Geneva  which  was  spared  that  fatal 
plague.      I  entered  the  preparatory  school    of    Dr. 
Squires  and  remained  there  until  the  frost  of  autumn 
had  purified  the  atmosphere,  when  I    returned    to 
Rochester  and  entered  the  college   institute   under 
the  care   of   Dr.    Morgan   and    Miss    Mary    Allen, 
adding  Greek  to  my  other  studies.      I  remained  in 
Rochester  during  the  remainder  of  1832  and    1833, 
which  were  very  effective  in  mental   discipline.      I 
overstudied   and  brought  on  a  rush  of  blood  to  the 
brain.     This  with  dyspepsia  caused    me    to    leave 
study  for  a  time  and  return  home.      I  resorted  to 
physicians   for   medical   treatment.      The    more    I 
came  to  know  of  doctors,  the  more    I  learned  that 
they  did  not  take  much  of    their    own    medicines. 
Consequently  I  came  to  the  conclusion   that    what 
was  not  good  for  the  doctors  was  not  good  for  me. 
Instead  of   dosing   with   drugs,  I   began   a   careful 
study  of  myself.      I  learned  what  food  agreed  with 
me  and  what  did  not,  what  quieted  my  system,  and 
what  unduly  excited  it.      I  also  learned  the  relation 
between  my  physical  and   intellectual  system,    and 
the  relation  of  both  to  my  spiritual  nature.      The 
discipline  that  I  passed  through   in  acquiring   this 
knowledge  was  a  painful   one,  yet   its   benefits    to 
me  have  been  above  all   price.      For  the   want   of 


St 7^ de fit  Life  23 

this  knowledge,  there  are  more  failures  in  the 
various  professions  of  life  than  from  any  other  one 
cause.  Solomon  says  that  "he  that  hath  no  rule 
over  his  own  spirit  is  like  a  city  that  is  broken 
down  and  without  walls." 

I  gave  the  most  of  the  year  1834  to  the  acquisi- 
tion of  that  knowledge  which  enable  me  to  rule  my 
own  spirit.  With  this  acquisition,  came  the 
question,  What  shall  I  do?  Shall  I  with  my  shat- 
tered health  and  limited  finances  attempt  a  full 
college  course  or  with  what  discipline  I  have,  enter 
a  theological  seminary,  and  there  take  a  full 
course?  I  took  this  question  to  my  Heavenly 
Father,  and  asked  Him  for  that  wisdom  which 
would  enable  me  to  decide  it.  I  decided  to  go  to  the 
Lane  Theological  Seminary.  On  the  15th  of 
October,  1834,  I  left  for  Lane  Seminary  byway  of 
Buffalo;  from  Lake  Erie  to  Cleveland,  from 
Cleveland  to  Wellsville  by  stage  and  from  there  by 
the  Ohio  river  to  Cincinnati.  I  was  cordially 
welcomed  by  the  faculty,  including  Rev.  Lyman 
Beecher,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Theology,  Rev.  Calvin 
E.  Stowe,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Biblical  Criticism, 
and  Professor  Biggs  of  Church  History.  I  entered 
the  only  theological  class  in  the  seminary  at  that 
time.  There  were  in  this  class  Henry  Ward  and 
Charles  Beecher,  Robert  Stanton  and  others.  I 
was  assigned  a  room  and  took  board  in  the  board- 


24  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

ing  department  of  the  seminary,  and  entered  upon 
the  studies  of  the  class  with  moderation.  From 
that  time  the  darkness  that  had  been  over  me  dis- 
appeared; hght  shone  upon  my  pathway.  The 
Lord  provided  for  all  my  temperal  and  spiritual 
wants.  I  put  my  letter  into  the  Second  Presby- 
terian church  of  which  Dr.  Beecher  was  pastor,  and 
began  to  feel  at  home  in  my  new  relations.  I  fell 
into  the  daily  round  of  student  life.  Soon  outside 
work  opened,  the  superintendency  of  a  Sabbath 
School  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  river  at  Cov- 
ington. The  seminary  duties  became  more  en- 
grossing as  days  and  weeks  multiplied.  Thus  we 
passed  until  near  the  close  of  the  seminary  year 
when  I  chanced  to  meet  an  acquaintance  whom  I 
made  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1832,  who  informed 
me  of  the  provision  for  a  theological  school  at 
Oberlin,  Ohio,  with  the  Rev.  Charles  G.  Finney 
as  Professor  of  Theology,  and  a  full  equipment  of 
professors  for  the  thorough  training  of  young  men 
for  the  ministry.  He  told  me  also  Mr.  John 
Rankin  of  New  York  City  would  pay  the  expenses 
of  those  who  wished  to  leave  Lane  for  Oberlin. 
While  highly  regarding  the  Lane  Faculty  for  their 
kindness  to  me,  I  was  not  in  sympathy  with  the 
leading  students  of  our  class,  and  longing  for  what 
I  knew  I  should  find  at  Oberlin,  I  asked  the  faculty 
of  Lane  to  give  me  a  letter  of  my  standing   in   my 


Student  Life  25 

class.  They  very  frankly  gave  me  the  letter  asked 
for.  On  the  19th  of  May,  1835,  I  took  passage  on 
a  steamboat  for  Wellsville,  and  from  there  across 
the  state  of  Ohio,  by  stage,  to  Cleveland;  thence 
to  Oberlin. 

On  reaching  Oberlin,  I  found  the  rush  of  students 
so  great,  there  was  no  place  to  lay  my  head  or 
even  to  leave  my  trunk.  We  had  to  wait  until 
temporary  rooms  could  be  provided.  During  the 
fitting  up  of  our  rooms  I  dropped  down  the  lake 
and  spent  two  weeks  at  home.  On  returning  to 
Oberlin  I  found  the  temporary  rooms  ready;  but 
there  must  be  three  in  a  room,  and  three  in  a  bed. 
With  such  accommodations  a  class  of  sixteen  young 
men  entered  upon  our  theological  studies  with  the 
Rev.  Charles  G.  Finney  as  Professor  of  Theology. 
Rev.  John  Morgan,  Professor  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment Scriptures,  Professor  John  P.  Cowles  of  the 
Old  Testament  Scriptures,  and  the  Rev.  Henry 
Cowles,  Professor  of  Church  History«  Rev.  Asa 
Mahan  was  President  of  the  college.  All  these  men 
were  in  their  prime  and  each  strong  in  the  position 
they  had  been  called  to  fill.  Here  there  was  a  full 
fledged  Christian  College  and  theological  seminary 
moving  into  full  work,  well  equipped  amid  the  forest 
of  Lorraine  County,  Ohio,  where  the  first  tree 
was  cut  down  and  the  first  field  opened  but  two 
years  before.     The  college  and  Theological  Semi- 


26  ^ifty  Vears  on  the  Skirjnish  Line 

nary  were  planted  for  Christian  and  evangelical 
purposes,  therefore  our  faculty  were  anxious  to 
have  their  students  make  proof  of  the  power  of 
their  doctrines  to  evangelize  and  Christianize  the 
surrounding  population.  Consequently  the  students 
were  expected  to  respond  to  any  calls  they  had 
from  surrounding  towns.  I  had  not  been  in  Oberlin 
two  months  when  I  was  invited  to  visit  Rochester, 
Loraine  Co.,  Ohio,  and  conduct  a  service  on  the 
Sabbath.  I  rode  twelve  miles  on  horseback. 
Found  a  log  school  house  with  a  clay  floor,  slab 
seats,  and  a  door  hung  on  wooden  hinges  that  an- 
nounced the  entrance  of  every  attendant.  We  had 
a  good  audience  to  whom  I  gave  my  first  home 
missionary  address.  They  invited  me  to  return  in 
two  weeks.  I  did  so;  and  continued  my  visits 
alternate  weeks  until  members  sufficient  to  organ- 
ize a  church  asked  that  organization  be  given 
them.  A  church  was  formed  and  a  supply  was 
secured  and  I  was  at  liberty  to  take  another 
vacancy.  Soon  there  came  a  man  from  Ridgeville, 
a  town  adjoining  the  county  seat,  and  stated  his 
case,  and  asked  for  a  volunteer  to  go  and  hold 
meetings  in  a  town  that  had  driven  out  every 
minister  that  had  attempted  to  hold  meetings  there 
for  the  last  two  years.  I  accepted  the  invitation, 
and  the  man  was  to  announce  service  for  the  next 
Sabbath.      I    went    over    on    Saturday    evening. 


Student  Life  2y 

Sabbath  morning  we  met  at  the  little  church  where 
I  talked  to  six  adults  and  some  children.  I  gave 
notice  of  a  meeting  at  four  o'clock,  and  took  recess 
for  dinner.  As  I  went  to  my  place  for  dinner,  I 
passed  two  hotels  around  which  I  counted  forty 
men.  At  4  P.  M.  we  had  twenty  adults,  and  some 
tears  which  encouraged  me  to  leave  an  appoint- 
ment to  return  in  two  weeks.  At  this  meeting  we 
had  a  fair  audience.  Arrangements  were  made  to 
continue  meetings  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  I  found 
there  a  small  church  in  the  midst  of  the  boldest 
infidels  that  I  have  encountered  in  a  ministry  of 
over  fifty  years.  I  held  services  in  their  church 
mornings  and  afternoons;  and  at  nights  in  their 
school  house.  God  blessed  our  efforts.  Back- 
sliders were  reclaimed;  their  children  were  con- 
verted. A  revival  of  religion  began.  We  thought 
best  to  call  in  a  minister  and  have  the  ordinances 
administered  to  this  oppressed  church.  The  time 
was  fixed.  Saturday  preceding  we  held  a  prepar- 
atory meeting.  Five  persons  came  forward  and 
asked  to  join  the  church.  They  were  examined 
and  accepted.  We  made  arrangements  for  the 
reception  of  the  new  members  and  for  the  Lord's 
supper,  and  a  prayer  meeting  at  nine  o'clock,  A. 
M.  The  news  went  out  from  the  Saturday  meeting 
what  had  been  done.  The  infidels  got  together 
and  said:     "This  revival  matter  must   be  stopped 


28  F'ifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

nowy  They  gathered  what  cattle  there  were  feed- 
ing on  the  grass  in  the  plot  of  the  town  and  drove 
them  into  the  meetinghouse,  opened  the  Bible  and 
put  into  it  a  handful  of  salt  and  shut  in  the  cattle 
and  left  them  there!  On  reaching  the  church  the 
next  morning  for  the  prayer  meeting  appointed  for 
nine  o'clock,  you  can  judge  in  what  condition  we 
found  it.  The  question  was  asked  me,  "What  can 
we  do. "  I  answered,  "There  is  but  one  thing  to  do: 
clean  out  this  house.  You  that  have  shovels, 
mops,  and  pails  bring  them  as  quick  as  you  can." 
The  house  was  cleaned  up  and  ready  for  the  regu- 
lar service  at  II  o'clock.  The  Holy  Spirit  was 
with  us  in  great  power.  The  members  were  re- 
ceived. The  sacraments  were  administered.  The 
banner  of  the  cross  of  Jesus  was  flung  to  the  breeze, 
and  has  floated  in  triumph  in  Ridgevilla  ever  since. 
We  organized  a  Sabbath  School,  our  congrega- 
tions increased  steadily,  converts  were  from  time 
to  time  received.  I  continued  my  labors  until  my 
graduation  from  Oberlin.  During  this  time  I 
encountered  the  most  determined  opposition  that  I 
have  met  in  my  long  ministry.  It  was  there  I 
learned  not  to  fear  hard  cases  nor  shun  hard  places. 
The  great  Head  of  the  church  was  schooling  me 
for  my  life's  work.  It  was  there  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  revealed  Himself  to  me.  I  was  conscious  of 
His  indwelling  power  which  carried  me  beyond  my- 


Student  Life  29 

self,  enabling  me  so  to  preach  the  gospel  that  in- 
fidelity quailed  before  the  simple  presentation  of 
Christ  crucified,  the  only  hope  of  the  lost  soul. 

Almost  the  entire  region  of  country  at  this  time 
was  without  suitable  houses  of  worship.  To 
meet  this  state  of  destitution,  Prof.  Finney  sent  to 
New  York  City  for  a  tent  that  would  hold  1,200  to 
1,500,  for  holding  meetings  in  the  destitute  towns. 
The  tent  was  furnished  by  friends  in  New  York 
and  came  on  in  August.  It  was  thought  best  to 
give  the  theological  class  a  short  vacation  that 
they  might  prove  the  gospel  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation.  They  were  to  go  out  and  spread  the 
new  tent  in  Dover,  a  growing  town  which  was 
readily  accessible  from  surrounding  towns.  We 
held  meetings  daytimes  and  at  night  scattered  out 
to  hold  meetings  in  surrounding  towns  in  their 
school  houses,  wake  up  the  people  to  the  subject 
of  religion  and  gather  them  with  us  at  the  tent  the 
next  day.  It  was  so  ordered  that  I  went  at  night 
to  the  town  of  Avon  that  joined  Ridgeville  on  the 
north.  There  had  settled  a  colony  of  English 
families  with  an  organized  Congregational  Church, 
and  a  pastor  by  the  name  of  Sadd.  He  was  anx- 
ious that  I  should  talk  to  his  people  from  night  to 
night,  as  long  as  the  tent  meeting  continued. 
When  the  tent  meetings  closed,  the  interest  in 
Avon  had  become  so  great  that  it  was  thought  best 


3©  Ptf^y  y^cirs  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

for  me  to  remain  in  Avon  and  do  what  I  could  in 
directing  anxious  souls  to  Christ.  I  realized  in 
some  measure  what  it  was  to  stand  between  the 
living  and  the  dead.  At  one  of  the  week  day 
afternoon  meetings,  after  singing,  I  asked  if  there 
were  any  present  who  desired  special  prayer  for 
themselves.  There  arose  one  of  the  principal  men 
of  the  town,  and  said:  "Do  pray  for  me."  Then 
another  leading  man  in  the  town  who  seemed  very 
much  in  earnest.  Then  a  lady  came  and  knelt 
in  deep  emotion  at  the  table  where  the  pastor  and 
myself  were  sitting,  "What  shall  I  do?  What 
shall  I  do.-*"  she  cried.  The  pastor  turned  to  me 
and  said:  "What  shall  we  do?"  I  gently  laid 
my  hand  on  his  shoulder,  and  said,  "Stand  still 
and  see  the  salvation  of  God."  There  passed 
through  that  audience  an  awful  sense  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Holy  One.  Prayers  were  offered  and 
answered  for  those  that  had  asked  prayer.  At  that 
meeting  the  waters  of  life  were  unsealed  and  the 
life  giving  stream  flowed  from  house  to  house  and 
from  heart  to  heart  until  about  one  hundred  drank 
of  the  living  waters  within  the  next  two  weeks. 
The  entire  township  felt  its  quickening  power.  From 
after  visits  made  there  I  learned  of  its  genuine  and 
vitalizing  power,  and  of  God's  saving  grace  to  that 
dear  people. 

We  returned  from  our  vacation  of  work    to  sys- 


Student  Life  31 

tematic  study  of  theology,  to  Hebrew  of  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  Greek  of  the  New  Testament. 
These  were  golden,  happy  days  that  passed 
too  quickly  through  the  years  of  1835  and  '36,  and 
brought  us  to  the  time  when  we  had  completed  the 
curriculum  of  study  and  passed  through  a  critical 
examination  of  the  studies  of  the  senior  year. 

Wednesday  the  14th  of  September,  1836,  was 
our  graduation  day.  The  forenoon  was  given  to 
Professors  Henry  and  John  P.  Cowles.  The  ex- 
ercises were  held  in  the  tent.  The  afternoon  was 
given  to  our  class,  the  first  to  graduate  from 
Oberlin.  I  was  the  second  speaker.  The  audience 
said  the  class  honored  the  professors  who  had  in- 
structed them. 

On  Thursday  the  15th  of  September,  the 
Western  Reserve  Association,  a  Congregational 
body,  met  at  Oberlin,  and  decided  to  grant  ordi- 
nation to  those  candidates  who  were  intending  to 
labor  without  their  bounds.  Six  candidates  came 
before  them  and  asked  ordination,  to  wit:  John  W. 
Alvord,  John  T.  Pierce,  Hiram  Wilson,  William 
Putman,  Charles  W.  Gurney  and  Elisha  B.  Sher- 
wood. After  the  examination  on  personal  piety 
the  association  adjourned  until  Friday  morning  at 
eight  o'clock. 

The  association  met  at  eight  o'clock  Friday 
morning,  and  proceeded  with  the  examination  of 


32  Fijiy  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

the  candidates  for  ordination.  Their  examination 
was  sustained  and  arrangements  were  made  for 
ordination  to  the  ministry  of  the  gospel.  Presi- 
dent Rev.  Asa  Mahan  preached  the  sermon  from 
Gal.  5:1,  "Be  ye  followers  of  God  as  dear  children." 
The  ordaining  prayer  was  offered  by  the  moderator 
of  the  association.  Rev.  Mr.  Rockwell.  The  charge 
to  the  candidates  by  the  Rev.  John  Keep  D.D. 
right  hand  of  fellowship  was  extended  by  the  Rev. 
Prof.  John  P.  Cowles.  The  services  were  solemn 
and  impressive  throughout.  In  my  diary  of  Sept. 
i6th,  1836  is  the  following: 

"O!  Thou  who  hath  said,  Go  preach  my  gospel, 
go  teach  all  nations,  open  before  me  that  door 
where  I  can  be  the  most  useful  and  my  labors  the 
most  effectual  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  I  ask  not 
the  riches  nor  the  honors  of  this  world.  I  do  desire 
to  honor  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  trust  Him  to 
give  me  souls  for  my  hire,  food  and  raiment  for 
the  body,  and  a  place  in  His  kingdom  where  I  may 
praise  Him  through  all  eternity  that  He  has  counted 
me  worthy  to  enter  the  ministry  of  the  gospel." 

Before  our  class  separated  we  agreed  to  return 
to  Oberlin  the  next  summer  and  attend  a  full  course 
of  lectures  on  pastoral  theology  to  be  given  by 
Prof.  Finney. 

On  the  2ist  of  September,  in  company  with 
Prof.  Dascomb  and  wife,  I  left  Oberlin  for  my  home 


Student  Life  33 

in  Millville,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  reaching  there 
on  the  24th.  Had  a  warm  welcome.  On  the  Sab- 
bath following  I  preached  morning  and  night  at 
Millville  to  more  of  my  relatives  than  I  have  ever 
been  permitted  to  address  since.  I  gave  the  fol- 
lowing week  to  visiting  relatives  and  friends.  The 
next  week  my  sister  Jane  was  married  to  Mr.  John 
C.  Cheesman,  who  after  marriage  became  a  physi- 
cian, raised  a  family  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 
One  of  the  sons  became  a  useful  minister  of  the 
gospel  but  died  early.  Two  of  them  are  successful 
dentists.  One  is  a  physician  and  one  a  lawyer. 
The  daughter  married  a  physician.  My  sister  was 
a  noble  Christian  mother,  and  sleeps  beside  her 
mother  in  the  old  cemetery  given  by  father  in  the 
year  1821. 

The  second  Sabbath  in  October,  1836,  I  assisted 
my  young  friend  Joel  Potter  a  licentiate  who  was 
supplying  the  Lyndonville  church  of  Niagara 
Presbytery.  At  a  communion  season  I  preached 
for  him,  and  for  the  first  time  administered  bap- 
tism and  served  our  Lord's  table,  after  receiving 
five  members  to  the  church.  This  was  the  first 
meeting  with  Bro.  Potter  since  we  commenced  the 
study  of  Latin  together.  We  had  grown  up  to- 
gether and  were  converted  in  the  same  revival  of 
religion.      He  was  a  good  man.      He  died  early. 

During  the  latter  part  of  October,  I  was  invited  to 


34  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

supply  the  Congregational  church  at  Riga,  Monroe 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  until  the  time  of  return  to  Oberlin  next 
summer.  T  accepted  the  invitation  and  entered  upon 
my  work  there.  I  took  board  with  an  aged  couple 
who  had  divided  their  farm  with  an  only  son  who 
had  built  a  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road. 
The  wife  of  the  son  was  an  interesting  Christian, 
who  enjoyed  meetings.  About  the  middle  of 
December  she  was  taken  suddenly  ill.  Her 
case  assumed  an  alarming  aspect,  soon  all  hope 
was  abandoned.  She  had  called  her  husband  to 
her  bedside  and  given  him  her  dying  charge  for 
the  two  bright  sons  she  was  leaving.  She  lay  back 
upon  her  pillow,  after  a  few  minutes  she  exclaimed: 
"Oh,  what  beautiful  music!      Don't  you   hear  it.^" 

We  did  not,  but  Mrs.  Little  did.  What  a  glow 
of  delight  illuminated  her  countenance!  She  had 
reached  the  Beulah  land.  There  was  glory  in  her 
soul.  Oh,  such  a  death !  It  seemed  as  if  there 
was  a  full  company  of  ministering  spirits  waiting  to 
convey  her  spirit  to  the  mansions  of  the  blessed. 
Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord! 

As  I  stand  on  the  departing  verge  of  1836,  I  can 
truly  say  that  it  has  been  the  most  important  year  of 
my  life.  The  Lord  has  prospered  me  in  all  that  I 
have  put  hand  to.  A  year  of  increase  in  Bible 
knowledge,  of  faith  in  God,  of  communion  with  Him. 
My  health  has  been  almost  perfect,  temporal  wants 


Student  Life  35 

have  all  been  supplied.  I  found  it  better  to  trust 
God  than  men.  The  Lord  has  led  me  through 
my  studies  and  laid  upon  me  the  responsibilities  of 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

January  1st,  1837.  Preached  on  our  stewardship. 
Ordained  Nelson  A.  Frost,  deacon.  Administered 
the  Lord's  supper  for  the  first  time  to  the  Riga 
church.  Married  my  first  couple  on  Monday  morn- 
ing, Mr.  John  Philips  to  Miss  Caroline  Thompson, 
one  of  Riga's  best  girls. 

Left  immediately  for  Darien,  Genesee  county. 
Stopped  with  the  Rev.  Truman  Baldwin,  whose 
eldest  daughter  I  was  to  marry  the  next  evening 
The  day  set  for  our  nuptials  was  very  stormy,  the 
wind  drifting  snow  so  that  the  road  was  nearly  im- 
passable, thereby  shutting  off  the  attendance  of  my 
brothers  and  sisters  from  our  wedding.  At  seven 
P.  M.  I  was  married  to  Miss  Aurelia  Munson  Bald- 
win, by  her  father,  Rev.  Truman  Baldwin.  After 
the  guests  withdrew,  my  father-in-law  welcomed 
me  to  his  family  in  a  formal  yet  affectionate  and 
tender  speech.  I  found  I  had  connected  myself 
with  a  large  circle  of  ministerial  families.  The 
storm  abated  in  time  for  us  to  meet  our  Sabbath 
services.  I  found  in  the  minister's  daughter  an 
excellent  minister's  wife,  who  had  been  to  her 
father  a  great  help,  therefore  trained  in  the 
duties  expected  of  her. 


36  F'ifiy   Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

Wa  moved  on  in  the  usual  duties  of  a  supply. 
As  the  roads  became  settled,  I  suggested  to  the 
congregation  a  plan  for  a  general  visitation  of  all 
the  families  in  that  part  of  the  township  in  which 
Riga  church  was  located.  The  congregation 
adopted  my  suggestions  and  the  result  brought 
quite  an  addition  to  the  congregation  during  my 
stay  among  them.  I  remained  until  some  time 
in  May  and  then  made  my  arrangements  to  return 
to  Oberlin  for  instruction  in  pastoral  theology. 
After  spending  a  few  days  with  friends,  we  left  for 
Oberlin.  On  reaching  Lockport,  N.  Y. ,  I  met 
there  Rev.  Gilbert  Crawford,  the  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  of  Lockport,  who  in- 
formed me  that  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Wilson 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Niagara  were  anxious  to  have 
me  visit  them.  He  asked  me  to  remain  over  the 
Sabbath  and  drive  down  with  his  horse  and  buggy 
and  spend  the  Sabbath  at  Wilson.  This  looked 
like  a  providential  opening.  Therefore  I  accepted 
his  offer  and  drove  down  to  see  the  people  that 
were  ambitious  to  see  me.  We  were  cordially 
received.  I  preached  to  them  on  the  Sabbath. 
They  extended  a  call  to  me  to  return  to  them  and 
become  their  pastor  after  I  had  been  through 
the  course  of  pastoral  theology.  We  returned  to 
Lockport  on  Monday  and  resumed  our  journey  to 
Oberlin,  which  we  reached  in  due  time  and  I  took 


Student  Life  37 

up  the  study  of  those  things  that  six  months' 
experience  had  taught  me  I  needed.  On  the  6th 
of  July,  Prof.  Finney  gave  us  his  introductory 
lecture  to  his  course  on  pastoral  theology,  followed 
with  thirty  lectures  embodying  his  rich  experience, 
his  sanctified  common  sense,  enforced  by  the  teach- 
ings of  God's  word,  and  pressed  down  upon  our 
hearts  by  his  fervent  prayers.  Toward  the  close 
of  this  course  he  came  into  the  class  room  with  an 
expression  of  countenance  that  betokened  there 
was  an  unusual  pressure  upon  him.  He  knelt, 
which  was  his  usual  posture  in  prayer  with  the 
class,  and  began  thus:  "Oh  Lord!  here  is  a  class 
of  young  ministers  that  are  soon  to  leave  us.  Save 
them  from  being  parrot  preachers!  May  they 
know  by  blessed  experience  the  power  and  excel- 
lence of  the  gospel  they  preach."  He  began  to 
weep.  He  prayed  and  wept  until  the  room  was  a 
Bochim.  At  the  end  of  a  half  hour,  he  arose, 
looked  at  his  watch  and  remarked,  "Young  gentle- 
men, I  feel  more  like  praying  than  talking  and  per- 
haps you  sympathize  with  me.  Let  some  one  lead 
in  prayer."  The  hour  was  filled  up  with  prayers. 
It  was  the  richest  hour  of  all  my  theological  course. 
It  was  an  hour  that  brought  with  it  the  enduring 
power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  fitting  us  to  be  witnesses 
to  the  power  of  the  Gospel.  Oh,  that  every  can- 
didate for  the  ministry  might  enjoy  such  an  hour, 


38  i^ipy  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

the  Holy  Ghost  resting  upon  him,  imparting  to 
him  a  tongue  of  fire,  that  will  set  on  fire  his  hearers 
until  they  realize  that  their  bodies  are  the  temples 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Herein  lay  Prof.  Finney's 
great  power  over  men.  He  knew  parrot  preachers 
might  very  eloquently  repeat  what  they  had  heard, 
yet  no  soul  be  saved.  Prof.  Finney  held  that  soul- 
saving  was  the  great  work  of  every  minister  of 
Christ's  gospel.  He  says  He  came  to  seek  and 
save  the  lost. 

These  lectures  ran  over  into  August.  The  time 
spent  hearing  them  was  well  employed.  This  in- 
struction was  the  most  valuable  of  any  course  in 
my  whole  study.  During  this  course  the  class 
met  twice  a  week  for  special  prayer  and  free  con- 
versation on  experimental  religion.  By  these 
meetings  I  was  greatly  strengthened  and  enlight- 
ened and  drawn  nearer  my  Savior  and  given  a  bet- 
ter understanding  of  His  offices  and  what  He  will 
do  for  them  who  only  trust  Him. 


CHAPTER  III. 

WORK  IN  WESTERN  NEW  YORK. 

We  left  Oberlin  about  the  middle  of  September 
and  went  direct  to  Wilson,  where  the  door  opened 
to  us  without  seeking  or  asking.  Circumstances 
seemed  to  indicate  that  Wilson  was  the  place 
where  God  would  have  us  labor.  I  entered  upon 
work  there  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  September,  1837. 
The  township  of  Wilson  bordered  on  Lake  Ontario 
on  the  north.  The  village  of  Wilson  was  a  short 
half  mile  south  from  the  lake.  Twelve  Mile  creek 
emptied  into  the  lake  at  this  point.  On  this  creek 
'  the  Wilsons  had  erected  mills  in  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  town.  Around  these  mills  a  village 
sprung  up.  The  Presbyterians  had  built  their 
church  there.  They  had  been  organized  twelve 
years  and  had  not  been  without  meetings  on  the 
Sabbath  for  all  these  years  extraordinaries  excepted. 
It  was  organized  with  only  six  members  and  these 
all  in  one  family:  Mr.  John  Holmes  and  wife, 
Daniel  Holmes  and  wife,  Mr.  Crosby  and  wife, 
daughter  of  John  Holmes.  These  families  had 
been  thoroughly  trained  in  the  doctrines  and  usages 

of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

39 


40  ^^fly  y^cirs  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

They  organized  for  work.  Consequently  they 
gave  notice  of  a  meeting,  and  invited  their  neigh- 
bors and  famihes  to  meet  with  them.  The  people 
came  out.  Mr.  John  Holmes  was  an  elder  in  the 
church  he  had  left  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.  His 
son,  Daniel,  was  made  an  elder  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  their  church.  The  people  looked  around 
for  the  preacher.  Elder  John  Holmes  opened  the 
meeting  by  reading  a  hymn.  An  extemporized  choir 
sang  the  hymn.  He  then  read  a  portion  of  script- 
ure and  offered  prayer.  Another  hymn  was  given 
out  and  sung.  Then  elder  Daniel  HolmiCS 
came  forward  with  a  sermon-book  and  read  a  ser- 
mon. Another  prayer  was  offered  to  God,  they 
sang  the  doxology,  and  were  dismissed  after  a 
meeting  for  the  next  Sabbath  was  announced.  In 
this  way  meetings  were  kept  up  from  year  to  year 
when  there  was  no  minister  to  preach  to  them. 

In  due  time  a  Sabbath  school  was  added  to  the 
reading  and  prayer  meetings.  The  people  who 
loved  meetings  soon  learned  where  to  go  on  the 
Sabbath.  Their  congregation  increased.  God 
gave  them  a  spirit  of  prayer.  Backsliders  returned 
to  duty;  anxious  ones  began  to  enquire  what  they 
should  do  to  be  saved.  They  sent  for  a  minister 
to  come  and  gather  in  the  fruits  of  their  reading 
meetings.  These  fruits  of  faithful  labor  strength- 
ened their  faith  and  they  worked  on.     When  they 


Work  in   Western  New  York  41 

called  me  to  be  their  pastor,  they  had  a  church 
house,  and  a  parsonage  and  were  ready  to  co-oper- 
ate with  me.  A  salary  was  pledged  for  my  sup- 
port. I  was  greatly  encouraged  that  God  opened, 
unsought,  such  a  field  to  me.  God  lifted  upon  me 
the  light  of  His  countenance  as  I  entered  into  this 
field.  He  opened  the  scriptures  to  me.  From 
them  I  derived  much  comfort.  The  Lord  gave  me 
liberty  in  preaching.  The  word  was  quick  and 
powerful  to  both  Christians  and  careless  sinners. 
Backsliders  began  to  confess  their  sins  and  return 
to  duty.  The  church  came  gradually  up  to  their 
duty.  South  of  the  parsonage  three  miles,  the 
people  of  that  school  district  had  completed  a  new 
frame  school  house.  They  came  to  me  and  asked 
me  if  I  would  not  come  up  and  hold  some  meetings 
in  their  new  house  before  the  commencement  of 
their  winter  school.  I  consulted  with  the  elders  who 
thought  best  to  accept  the  invitation.  We  made 
our  arrangements  accordingly,  and  sent  an  appoint- 
ment for  an  evening  meeting.  One  of  my  elders 
went  with  me  to  the  first  meeting.  The  people  of 
the  district  were  there;  we  had  a  good  meeting 
and  I  made  appointment  for  the  afternoon  and  even- 
ing of  the  next  day.  There  was  a  good  interest  in 
both  meetings.  I  repeated  the  same  appointments 
for  next  day.  There  were  a  good  many  out  in  the 
afternoon.     As  I  dismissed  the  afternoon  meeting 


42  ^0y  y^^^^  on  the  Skirmish  Line 


and  they  left,  I  turned  the  key  on  the  door  and 
shut  myself  in  with  God,  and  wrestled  in  prayer 
until  near  time  for  the  evening  service.  I  seemed 
to  sink  into  the  atonement  of  Christ  as  I  had  never 
before,  and  the  love  of  Christ  welled  up  and  filled 
me  with  a  fulness  that  carried  me  out  of  myself. 
I  realize  what  the  apostle  meant  when  he  said, 
"Christ  in  me  full  of  glory."  That  night  God  gave 
me  a  message  that  seemed  to  unseal  the  waters  of 
life  to  that  congregation.  Three  persons  drank  of 
the  living  waters  that  Christ  gave  them.  Convic- 
tion took  hold  on  all  classes  in  that  school  district 
and  many  of  them  sought  the  Savior  and  found 
Him  the  joy  of  their  lives.  We  held  on  some  two 
weeks.      A  number  of  families  joined  our  church. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1838,  we  held  a 
meeting  at  our  church.  There  came  down  to  the 
night  meeting  a  sleigh  load  of  young  people  from 
Cambria  to  attend  that  meeting.  In  the  company 
there  was  a  Miss  Baker,  who  got  up  the  party; 
was  led  to  Christ  that  night ;  and  made  a  confession 
of  having  experienced  forgiveness  of  her  sins,  be- 
fore her  associates,  ere  she  left  the  church.  There 
were  three  others  who  experienced  the  same  bless- 
ing in  that  meeting.  Som.e  six  months  after  I  Avas 
sent  for,  to  visit  Miss  Baker.  I  was  shown  to  her 
sick-room.  As  I  took  a  seat  near  her  bed,  she 
said:     "Mr.  Sherwood,  I  am  near  the  close  of  my 


Work  in   Western  New  York 


43 


young  life.  I  felt  that  I  could  not  leave  this  world 
without  seeing  you,  and  telling  you  what  a  blessing 
you  have  been  to  me,  in  preparing  me  for  this 
sick-bed,  and  what  is  just  before  me."  She  then 
related  how  she  was  moved  upon  to  get  up  that 
sleigh  load,  and  that  I  should  preach  the  sermon 
I  did  and  that  she  then  gave  herself  to  Christ  and 
had  the  evidence  of  her  acceptance  and  went  home 
a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus.  Then  she  was  in 
good  health  with  as  reasonable  a  prospect  of  life  as 
any  of  her  companions.  "How  good  God  was  to 
prepare  me  in  health  for  my  dying  hour!"  Blessed 
was  the  chamber  where  I  met  Miss  Baker.  I  read 
God's  word  to  her,  sang  a  hymn,  prayed  with  her, 
commending  her  to  the  Savior,  then  parted  with 
her  to  meet  her  where  there  will  be  no  dying. 

The  influence  of  the  meeting  in  that  school 
house  had  awakened  a  desire  for  a  meeting  in  a  school 
house  three  miles  east  of  the  village  of  Wilson. 
About  the  middle  of  January,  1838,  we  began  a 
meeting  at  this  school  house.  The  interest  from 
the  first  meeting  to  the  last  rose  with  the  members  of 
the  church.  In  the  same  proportion  did  conviction 
take  hold  upon  the  impenitent.  Christians  wept 
over  dying  men  and  sinners  trembled  in  view  of 
coming  wrath.  Christians  were  humbled  in  the 
dust,  the  most  hardened  bowed  before  the  mighty 
power  of  grace  in  Christ.     The   roads  became   so 


44  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

muddy  that  horse  teams  could  not  bring  out  the 
people.  They  put  on  oxen  and  wallowed  through 
the  mud  night  after  night.  We  continued  the 
meetings  for  two  weeks.  Those  weeks  will  never 
be  forgotten  by  those  who  participated  in  those 
hallowed  scenes. 

During  the  month  of  February  we  began  a  meet- 
ing in  a  school  house  some  three  miles  north-west 
of  the  village,  where  the  fires  of  an  old  distillery 
destroyed  all  moral  feeling.  For  example,  I  found 
a  sick  boy  in  a  family  who  thought  themselves  re- 
spectable, who  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  had  never 
heard  of  Jesus  Christ.  On  preaching  to  them  a 
few  nights,  conscience  awakened  under  the  power 
of  the  Holy  Spirit;  backsliders  repented  and  con- 
fessed their  sins;  stumbling  blocks  were  taken  away 
and  some  conversions  were  the  fruits.  Great  good 
was  done  in  removing  prejudice,  silencing  opposi- 
tion and  sowing  the  seeds  of  gospel  truth  which  in 
after  years  sprung  up  and  brought  forth  fruit  unto 
eternal  life.  While  this  meeting  was  in  progress 
I  received  a  letter  saying  that  my  eldest  sister, 
Mrs.  Foot,  was  rapidly  sickening  under  the  influence 
of  an  incurable  disease.  I  left  all  to  visit  her.  I 
found  on  my  arrival  at  my  father's,  that  his 
mother,  my  grandmother,  aged  86  years,  had  died 
the  night  before.  I  attended  her  funeral  with  other 
members  of  the  family.      I  found    my    dear   sister 


Work  in   Western  New  York  45 


very  low,  yet  in  full  possession  of  all  her  faculties. 
It  devolved  upon  me  to  do  what  ought  to  have 
been  done  some  time  before,  to  inform  her  that  her 
end  was  not  far  off.  A  great  tear  gathered  in  her 
eye.  She  wiped  it  away,  and  gave  herself  to 
arranging  her  things  for  her  departure.  She  was 
the  first  among  the  children  of  the  family  to  take 
her  stand  for  Christ,  and  had  adorned  her  profes- 
sion with  a  consecrated  life.  I  remained  with  her 
two  days.  Then  took  my  leave  of  her  until  we 
meet  where  there  are  no  farewells.  On  my  return 
from  this  mournful  visit,  we  commenced  a  series  of 
meetings  in  the  church  at  the  village  which  was 
continued  every  evening  for  two  weeks.  We  had 
set  back-fires  on  three  sides  of  the  village.  We 
thought  the  time  had  come  to  kindle  one  in  the 
village.  God  bowed  the  heavens  and  came  down, 
and  exalted  His  own  cause.  He  gave  me  great 
help  in  preaching  the  word.  He  gave  the  church 
a  spirit  of  prayer,  and  steadfast  faith.  Sinners 
were  converted  and  the  church  was  greatly  edified 
and  strengthened;  infidelity  was  shaken,  much 
prejudice  was  removed.  Long  let  the  church  of 
Wilson  praise  God  for  what  He  did  for  them  at 
this  meeting!  On  the  first  Sabbath  in  April 
twenty-four  were  received  on  confession  of  their 
faith.  Thirteen  were  baptised.  I  began  now  to 
instruct  the  church  in  doctrine  and  duty  and   to 


^6  F'ifiy  y^^^^  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

feed  the  lambs.  The  revival  spirit  abode  with  us. 
Every  communion  season  added  more  or  less  to 
the  roll  of  the  church. 

On  the  twelfth  of  September,  my  wife  gave  birth 
to  our  first  child,  a  daughter.  She  bore  the  name 
of  her  two  aunts.  Margaret  Elizabeth.  She  was  a 
lovely  child. 

In  November  of  this  year  we  took  possession  of 
the  parsonage  at  the  village,  which  our  people 
erected  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  one  they  owned 
two  miles  in  the  country.  The  Lord  had  given  us 
great  favor  with  this  people.  They  did  nobly  in 
providing  for  our  comfort  among  them.  The  year 
1838  was  one  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High. 
Long  let  the  church  of  Wilson  celebrate  it! 

For  outside  work  on  our  field  we  took  school 
districts  lying  in  different  directions  from  the 
village  from  those  we  worked  last  year.  They 
were  districts  in  which  there  was  not  a  family 
altar,  nor  a  member  of  our  church.  We  began  by 
visiting  day  times  and  preaching  nights.  In  our 
visits  we  passed  no  families.  We  talked  with 
parents  and  children.  God  put  the  seal  of  His 
approbation  upon  our  efforts.  The  eldership  came 
to  our  help.  Conviction  took  hold  of  leading 
families.  They  sought  and  found  salvation.  They 
began  to  instruct  their  children.  Quite  a  number 
of  families  came  into  the  church  from  these  efforts. 


Work  m   Western  New  York  47 

The  Rev.  Lemuel  Clark  came  to  my  help  at  the 
meeting  we  held  in  the  village.  His  sermons 
reached  some  whom  I  had  failed  to  benefit.  A 
number  of  these  came  into  the  church.  The  con- 
verts of  last  year  were  very  much  strengthened  by 
these  services. 

On  September  loth,  1839,  the  Presbytery  of 
Niagara  met  at  Wilson  for  my  installation.  My  letter 
of  dismission  from  the  Western  Reserve  Association 
was  received  by  the  Presbytery.  Rev.  Asa  Mahan 
of  Oberlin  preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  Truman 
Baldwin,  my  father-in-law,  gave  the  pastor  his 
charge.  The  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Wisner,  D.D.,  gave 
the  charge  to  the  congregation.  This  was  a  great 
day  to  the  people  of  Wilson.  They  had  been  an 
organized  church  fourteen  years.  All  these  years 
they  had  struggled  as  best  they  could.  They  had 
had  a  stated  supply  but  for  one  consecutive  year. 
On  this  day  for  the  first  time  they  had  a  settled 
pastor. 

Early  this  autumn  I  commenced  a  course  of  doc- 
trinal sermons,  beginning  with  the  genuineness 
and  authenticity  of  scripture;  God, — His  existence 
and  attributes;  the  Trinity;  Divinity  of  Christ,  and 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  Fall  of  Man  and  its  conse- 
quences; the  covenant  of  grace  and  the  mediatoral 
work  of  Christ.  God  put  His  seal  upon  this 
course  of  sermons  in  outpouring    His    Spirit  in  the 


48  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Li?ie 

convictions  of  sinners  and  their  conversion  and 
confession  of  Christ  before  the  world  and  in  the 
estabhshing  of  the  church  in  the  faith  and  order  of 
this  people. 

There  was  a  marvelous  interposition  of  divine 
power  in  the  removal  of  a  young  man  who  resisted 
the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  last  revival  of  religion.  He 
became  a  scoffer  and  mocker,  holding  mock  prayer- 
meetings.  After  one  of  his  mock  prayer-meetings 
he  was  taken  suddenly  sick.  I  called  to  see  him. 
He  said  he  wanted  no  minister  to  talk  to  him.  He 
turned  his  face  to  the  wall.  I  left  him.  He  grew 
rapidly  worse  and  as  death  was  feeling  for  his  heart 
strings,  despair  settled  upon  him.  He  broke  forth 
with  a  piteous  cry,  "Bring  in  a  light!  Bring  in  a 
light!"  But  his  cries  soon  ceased.  Such  a  death 
was  never  witnessed  in  Wilson.  Infidelity  stood 
aghast  to  see  their  champion  mourning  at  the  last 
in  the  darkness  of  despair.  This  death  was  sanc- 
tified to  young  men  of  Wilson. 

At  the  annual  thanksgiving  of  1839,  I  came  out 
with  the  history  of  Wilson,  closing  with  two  sug- 
gestions which  would  add  to  their  business  and 
population.  First:  The  securing  of  the  govern- 
ment appropriation  for  the  removal  of  the  accumu- 
lationsof  ages  from  the  mouth  of  Twelve-Mile  creek, 
where  it  empties  into  the  lake,  thereby  furnishing 
a   harbor    for  vessels    doing   business    on    Lake 


Work  in   Western  New  York  49 

Ontario,  thus  giving  to  the  town  a  commercial 
importance.  Second:  An  academy  that  would 
furnish  the  youth  of  this  entire  region  with  the 
facilities  for  a  thorough  business  and  literary  course. 
I  am  happy  to  say  these  suggestions  were  well  re- 
ceived and  were  adopted  and  have  added  to  the 
business  and  influence  of  Wilson  on  surrounding 
towns. 

At  the  fall  meeting  of  Niagara  Presbytery,  a 
convention  of  ministers  and  churches  was  agreed 
upon  and  appointed  at  Lyndonville  in  the  town  of 
Yates,  Orleans  county,  on  a  given  day  in  Nov., 
1840,  for  the  purpos  of  considering  what  could 
be  done  to  strengthen  the  feeble  churches  in  con- 
nection with  our  Presbytery. 

The  convention  met  according  to  agreement,  I 
was  designated  to  preach  the  opening  sermon  which 
duty  I  performed.  We  spent  two  days  in  consul- 
tation and  prayer.  The  following  plan  was  adopted, 
to-wit:  Every  church  in  the  Presbytery  to  be 
visited,  one  week  to  be  spent  with  each,  visiting 
from  house  to  house  during  the  day,  preaching 
every  night  and  day  time  when  circumstances 
demanded  it.  Churches  without  pastors  or  supplies 
were  to  be  the  first  visited.  The  Presbytery 
covered  the  counties  of  Niagara  and  Orleans.  The 
ministers  and  churches  of  each  county  were  respon- 
sible that  the  plan  was  carried  out.     We  were  to 


50  ^ifiy  Ycaj'S  on  the  Skirmish  Line 


begin  as  soon  after  the   first   of   December   as  we 
could.      I  left  my  home   on  the   first   week   in  De- 
cember   and    rode    on    horseback    to    Wheatland 
church,  some  twenty  miles,  on  a   cold   day.      The 
stated  supply  of  Lewiston  church  I  met  me  there, 
and  no  others  came  to  that  feeble,  destitute  church. 
We  spent  a  week  with  them  and  did  what  we  could 
for  them.     The  bachelor  brother  from   Lewiston 
found  a  good  thing  there,  a  lady  that  made  him  an 
excellent  wife.     Somerset   was   next  visited.     My 
father-in-law  was  their  supply,   and  had  been  for 
two  years.     They  had  just  completed  a  new  meet- 
ing house.      Their  Sabbath   school  was  in  a  condi- 
tion to  be  greatly  benefited  by  the  visitation,  which 
was   crowned   with    rich    results.     There    was    at 
Somerset  a  good  list  of  helpers,  some  twenty  from 
the  Sabbath  school  with  quite  a  number  of  heads 
of  families  from  that  church   bringing  it  up  \.h  the 
condition  of  self-support.   The  meetings  at  Somer- 
set assumed  so  much  interest  they  were  protracted 
for  two  weeks.     Wilson  was  next  visited.   We  had 
a  very  profitable  week  with  some  conversions.   The 
church   enjoyed   the   visits.      At   the   close   of  the 
meeting  our  baby  boy,  born   on   the    19th   of  Sep- 
tember, Elisha  Baldwin,  took   the   lung  fever  and 
died,  aged  four  months  and  fourteen  days.    Sickness 
and   death    coming   upon    us,    I    overworked    and 
brought  on  fever  and   ague  which   shut  me  up  two 


Work  in   If  es turn  New  York  51 

weeks.  When  I  so  far  recovered  that  I  could,  I 
took  my  wife  and  daughter,  two  years  old,  and 
drove  out  to  Youngstown  where  the  next  meeting 
was  to  be. 

On  reaching  Youngstown  I  found  their  pastor. 
Rev.  J.  Elliott,  sick  in  bed,  and  no  one  on  the 
ground  to  preach  a  sermon  or  conduct  a  meeting, 
but  the  session  of  the  church.  Learning  that  I  was 
present  they  waited  upon  me  and  requested  me  to 
undertake  the  conducting  of  the  services  of  the 
Presbyterial  visitation.  I  told  them  I  was  totally 
unfit  to  do  so,  from  the  state  of  my  health.  Dr. 
Hyde,  one  of  the  session  said,  "Put  yourself  under 
my  treatment  and  I  will  see  you  safely  through." 
The  circumstances  were  such  as  made  it  seem 
necessary  that  I  should  throw  myself  on  the  arm 
of  the  Lord  and  do  the  best  I  could  for  them. 

Our  first  service  was  held  in  the  basement  of  the 
church.  In  this  meeting  there  were  manifest  evi- 
dences of  the  Holy  Spirit's  presence  and  power. 
At  night  I  preached  to  an  attentive  and  solemn 
audience.  The  meeting  the  next  afternoon  took 
the  form  of  a  prayer  meeting  attended  with  heart- 
broken confessions. 

The  second  evening's  service  was  a  memorable 
one  never  to  be  forgotten.  Towards  the  close  of 
the  sermon,  I  noticed  a  gentleman  enter  and  drop 
into  a  seat  near  the  door.     The  Holy  Spirit   gave 


52  Fifiy  Years  on' the  Skirmish  Line 

me  an  illustration  which  I  used  which  God  blessed 
to  the  opening  of  the  eyes  of  this  late  comer.  He 
saw  his  lost  condition  as  a  sinner  in  the  presence 
of  a  heart-searching  God.  He  was  seen  to  weep. 
Those  who  sat  near  were  astonished  to  see  his 
tears.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  attended  a 
gospel  service  for  fifteen  years.  He  was  the 
champion  of  infidelity,  the  ringleader  of  wickedness 
in  general.  He  was  the  village  lawyer,  a  ready 
talker  and  a  man  of  influence  among  young  men. 
Seeing  this  man  in  tears  moved  his  associates  to 
enquire,  "What  does  this  mean?"  The  next  morn- 
ing they  met  to  talk  up  this  question.  They  dele- 
gated two  young  men  to  wait  upon  Lawyer  Bab- 
cock  and  learn  from  his  own  lips  what  those  tears 
meant  the  night  before.  The  delegation  soon  re- 
turned saying  that  Esquire  Babcock  was  terribly  in 
earnest.  The  effect  on  his  unrepentant  associates 
was  like  a  shock  of  electricity.  At  that  afternoon 
meeting,  Mr.  Babcock  arose  and  said,  "Last  night 
on  going  home  from  that  meeting,  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life  I  began  to  pray,  and  my  re- 
quest is  that  you  would  all  pray  that  I  may  always 
continue  to  pray."  That  night  when  the  invitation 
was  given,  asking  any  who  wished  to  be  remembered 
in  the  closing  prayer  to  manifest  it  by  rising  to 
their  feet,  Mr.  Babcock  was  the  first  one  that  rose. 
It  was  like  wrenching  the  key  stone  from   an  arch. 


Work  in   Western  New  York  53 

Infidelity  and  wickedness  fell  in.  Seventy-five 
arose  for  prayers.  The  place  became  a  Bochim, 
a  place  of  tears.  The  next  day  was  the  Sabbath. 
The  great  power  of  God  was  on  the  congregation. 
Sinners  were  pricked  in  their  hearts  and  cried  out, 
"What  shall  we  do.?"  General  conviction  of  sin 
took  hold  of  all  classes,  whether  they  were  church 
goers  or  home  stayers.  Wives  who  had  waited  for 
their  husbands  made  up  their  minds  that  they  could 
not  wait  any  longer.  They  made  up  their  minds 
to  go  to  Jesus.  Their  action  brought  their  hus- 
bands with  them  sooner  or  later. 

At  the  close  of  the  morning  service  of  the  second 
Sabbath,  I  went  to  the  gentleman  who  kept  the 
principal  hotel  of  Youngstown  and  asked  him  if  he 
had  settled  the  question  to  go  with  his  wife,  who, 
during  the  preceding  week,  had  given  herself  to 
Christ.  He  said  he  had  and  he  invited  me  to  go 
home  with  him  for  dinner.  I  went  with  him.  We 
went  through  the  form  of  dinner;  but  the  dinner- 
party wanted  salvation  more  than  they  wanted 
anything  else.  After  dinner  we  repaired  to  the 
parlor  to  guide  enquiring  minds  to  Jesus  Christ, 
the  sinner's  friend.  I  led  in  prayer.  The  hotel 
keeper  followed  me.  He  began  in  this  way:  "O 
Lord,  thou  knowest  what  has  kept  me  away  from 
thy  services  so  long.  It  is  this  bar.  Now,  O  Lord, 
I  put  it  away;  give  me  grace  to  live  as  a  Christian 


54  Fifty  Years  o?i  the  Skirmish  Line 

should."  His  brother  was  no  less  explicit  in  re- 
nouncing the  pleasures  of  the  world  and  in  the  con- 
secration of  himself  to  the  Lord  Jesus.  There  were 
eleven  prayers  offered  in  that  parlor  by  the  inmates 
and  boarders  of  that  hotel  for  the  first  time  that 
afternoon.  We  had  not  concluded  that  solemn 
meeting,  when  I  was  sent  for  to  visit  another 
family.  I  went  with  the  messenger,  where  I  found 
a  whole  household  in  the  same  state  of  mind  as 
those  with  whom  I  had  dined.  There  God  in  the 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  revealed  Himself  for  the 
salvation  of  the  inmates  of  the  family.  Oh,  what 
a  glorious  Sabbath  that  was!  On  the  next  Tues- 
day night  that  hotel  with  all  its  contents  was  con- 
sumed by  a  mysterious  fire  breaking  out  about  two 
o'clock. 

The  revival  became  general  throughout  the  vil- 
lage, and  spread  into  the  country.  The  meetings 
were  thronged.  Dr.  Wisner  came  to  my  help  and 
for  some  three  weeks  the  meetings  were  continued. 
It  was  the  first  general  revival  ever  enjoyed  in 
that  frontier  town.  Its  influence  permeated  every 
class  of  society,  working  out  a  general  reformation 
in  the  habits  of  the  people.  Drinking  was  dried 
up,  gambling  was  stopped,  the  Sabbath  hallowed, 
family  religion  was  established  in  what  before  had 
been  prayerless  homes.  Seventy  converts  joined 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  a  majority  of  whom  were 
heads  of  families. 


Work  in   Western  New  York  55 

During  my  stay  in  Youngstown,  my  wife  and 
daughter  were  taken  sick,  thus  I  was  held  there 
that  I  might  be  a  worker  with  God  in  that  marvel- 
ous display  of  His  saving  grace  to  that  hitherto 
neglected  people.  I  felt  that  the  providence  and 
blessing  of  God  made  plain  my  duty  to  remain  at 
Youngstown  until  I  could  safely  take  my  family 
home.  My  stay  of  three  weeks  at  Youngstown 
led  to  dissatisfaction  with  the  Wilson  congregation 
which  resulted  in  dissolving  the  pastoral  relation, 
and  my  undertaking  the  work  of  a  missionary  with 
the  feeble  churches  and  destitute  places  in  Niagara 
county.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  in  May 
1 841.  I  removed  my  family  to  Middleport,  a 
village  in  the  east  part  of  the  county  where  was  one 
of  our  feeble  churches.  I  bought  and  fitted  up  a 
comfortable  home.  I  made  up  my  mind  that  the 
best  way  to  change  the  moral  aspect  of  Middleport 
was  to  open  an  Academic  school.  With  the  assist- 
ance of  friends  I  built  a  school  building  in  a 
vacant  lot  that  I  bought  with  my  home,  in  which 
my  father-in-law,  Rev.  Truman  Baldwin,  with  two 
unmarried  daughters,  opened  an  Academic  school, 
which,  with  Sabbath  services,  soon  gave  us  a 
pleasant  introduction  into  that  community.  After 
settling  my  family  at  Middleport  and  seeing  the 
Academy  in  working  order,  in  connection  with  the 
Rev.  Wm.  C.  Wisner,  I  entered  upon  a    series    of 


56  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

meetings  with  the  churches  in  Niagara  county  in 
our  Presbytery.  We  held  a  second  meeting  at 
Youngstown  where  in  addition  to  the  seventy 
members  in  March,  1841,  ninety  were  added  in  the 
winter  of  1842.  This  revival  reached  out  into 
the  town  of  Porter  and  brought  in  a  large  number 
from  the  country  east  of  Youngstown.  We  held 
a  second  meeting  at  Somerset  which  was  greatly 
blessed  to  that  people.  During  this  meeting  I 
was  called  home  on  account  of  the  sickness  of  our 
little  daughter.  After  her  recovery,  we  held  an 
interesting  meeting  in  Cambria.  The  work  was 
general  and  large  numbers  were  added  to  the  church 
We  then  held  a  meeting  at  Lewiston.  The  work 
was  slow  there,  but  we  reached  a  class  that  was 
never  reached  before,  and  families  that  gave  influ- 
ence to  the  church,  which  took  on  growth,  and  is 
now  a  moral  power  that  is  felt  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  Dr.  Wisner  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Lockport  which 
took  him  out  of  the  evangelistic  work  and  left  me 
alone,  with  some  lay  helpers.  I  held  an  interest- 
ing meeting  at  Gosport-.  six  miles  east  of  Middle- 
port.  There  were  a  large  number  added  to  Gos- 
port Congregational  church  as  the  fruits  of  this 
effort. 

In    May  of    1842,    I    was  invited    by  the    Rev. 
Wm.  Beecher,  who  was  pastor  at  Batavia,  N.  Y. , 


Work  in   Western  New  York  57 

to  come  to  his  assistance  for  a  week  or  more.  In 
going  to  Batavia  I  passed  through  Caryville,  a 
town  on  an  old  Indian  reservation  six  miles  north 
of  Batavia.  At  Caryville  we  had  a  small  Presby- 
terian church  which  was  then  supplied  by  an 
acquaintance  of  mine,  Rev  T.  Darling.  Being 
weary  with  the  morning  ride  I  stopped  at  the  house 
of  Brother  Darling  for  a  little  rest.  On  knocking 
at  his  door  he  opened  it  with  the  salutation, 
"God  bless  you,  Brother  Sherwood.  I  believe  the 
Lord  has  sent  you  here."  I  told  him  why  I  was 
there.  "Will  you  preach  for  us  on  your  return?" 
he  asked.  I  replied  that  I  would  try  to  arrange 
so  to  do.  On  completing  my  stay  at  Batavia  I 
informed  Brother  Darling  that  I  would  preach  for 
him  on  the  next  evening.  I  found  their  place  of 
meeting  was  a  dining-room  that  would  accommo- 
date fifty  persons.  They  had  meeting  there  night 
after  night  for  six  weeks  for  prayer.  The  room 
was  well  filled.  Before  I  was  through  with  my 
sermon,  I  was  impressed  that  some  one  had  a  work 
to  do  there.  As  I  was  about  closing  my  sermon, 
Brother  Darling  came  and  asked  if  I  could  stop 
and  give  them  another  sermon.  I  consented, 
remained,  and  preached  with  increasing  interest. 
As  I  was  closing,  Mr.  Darling  came  again  and 
said,  "Can  you  not  stay  and  preach  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  let  me  go  and  supply  your  appointment."     By 


58  ^^f^y  y^cif's  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

this  time  I  felt  that  God  had  opened  a  door  forme 
to  enter  into  a  good  work.  I  consented  to  make 
the  exchange.  Saturday  night  and  Sunday  the 
school  house  could  be  used.  Saturday  night  we 
had  a  good  audience.  Sabbath  morning  the  ladies 
filled  the  school  house  leaving  the  gentlemen  to  do 
the  best  they  could.  The  attendance  at  night  was 
larger  than  in  the  morning. 

What  to  do  for  room  to  accommodate  the  people 
was  the  question  on  Monday  morning.  I  did  not 
wait  for  Brother  Darling  to  return.  I  called  to- 
gether some  of  the  leading  men  to  decide  what 
to  do.  There  was  a  large  building,  100x40  feet, 
just  finished  for  Col,  Gary,  the  patron  of  the  town. 
The  lower  story  had  been  finished  as  one  room. 
Mr.  Gary  was  waited  upon  by  a  committee  of  gen- 
tlemen, who  asked  for  that  room  for  the  meetings. 
The  request  was  granted.  The  next  thing  was 
seating  the  room.  That  was  provided  for,  and  a 
meeting  was  announced  at  the  hall  for  Monday 
night.  The  congregation  increased  every  night, 
and  they  increased  the  seating,  until  the  hall  floor 
was  filled  with  seats,  and  the  seats  were  filled  with 
the  people.  On  Sabbath  days  this  large  building 
was  surrounded  by  buggies  and  carriages  full  of 
people  that  could  not  get  seats  in  the  hall.  I  be- 
gan to  inquire,  "Why  are  such  multitudes  gathering 
here.?" 


Work  in  Western  New  York  59 

During  the  year  1841  that  whole  region  had  been 
visited  by  a  disease  known  as  the  black  tongue, 
which  swept  off  many  by  death,  leaving  on  the 
community  an  awful  sense  of  the  visitation  they 
had  passed  through.  This  state  of  things  with  six 
weeks  of  prayer  had  prepared  for  this  visitation  of 
the  grace  and  Spirit  of  God.  We  settled  on  this 
plan:  meeting  every  day  at  2  P.  M.,  and  at  7:30, 
P.  M.,  during  week  days,  and  on  Sabbath  preaching 
morning  and  night  at  the  usual  hours,  with  a 
prayer  meeting  at  4  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Brother  Darling  gave  up  the  meeting  to  me.  After 
the  sermon  at  night,  I  invited  forward  any  one 
who  felt  his  need  of  pardon  for  sin.  There  were 
often  twenty-five  that  came  under  this  invitation, 
sometimes  fifty  and  even  more.  Converts  began 
their  testimony  for  Christ.  The  work  deepened 
and  widened,  conviction  took  hold  of  all  classes. 
Farmers  would  work  up  to  their  dinner  hour,  and 
be  at  the  two  o'clock  meeting,  take  their  rest  at 
the  meeting  and  return  home,  work  between  meet- 
ings and  be  out  again  at  night.  Thus  we  worked 
on  from  the  last  week  in  May,  until  after  the  4th 
of  July  when  it  seemed  I  could  not  remain  any 
longer.  I  announced  my  closing  sermon.  We  had 
out  a  large  congregation.  I  preached  to  the  con- 
verts. As  I  was  about  closing,  there  came  up  a 
pour-down  shower,  and  no   one   wanted  to    leave. 


6o  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

I  spoke  to  those  who  knew  their  duty  and  had  not 
done  it,  for  about  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  asked 
those  who  knew  their  duty  and  had  not  done  it, 
but  would  then  begin,  to  arise.  Col.  Gary  arose 
and  with  him  some  fifteen  others  who  had  been 
hiding  behind  Col.  Cary.  This  action  of  Col.  Cary 
and  his  associates  brought  me  into  new  straits.  I 
paused  and  asked  wisdom  from  above.  This  plan 
was  suggested:  leave  the  question  of  thecontinuance 
of  the  meeting  to  the  colonel  and  his  associates, 
and  others  in  the  congregation  who  have  not  taken 
a  stand  for  Christ;  ask  of  these  what  they  want. 
So  I  put  the  matter  in  this  form:  "I  shall  leave 
the  question  of  the  continuance  of  these  services 
to  those  who  have  this  night  risen,  and  all  in  the 
congregation  who  have  not  professed  Christ.  If 
you  desire  these  meetings  continued  such  will  now 
manifest  it  by  arising."  One  hundred  arose.  I 
then  said:  "The  future  meetings  are  for  those 
who  have  risen  here  to  night  and  I  shall  expect 
your  faithful  attendance,  and  that  you  will  use  your 
influence  to  bring  others  here."  I  appointed  meet- 
ings for    next   day   and  night. 

Col.  Cary  came  right  out  and  took  his  stand  for 
Christ,  went  to  work,  providing  clothing  (or  some 
poorfamilies  which  the  ladies  made  up,  and  these 
familiescommencedattendingmeetings.  Thecolonel 
asked  me  to  go  with  him  and  visit  a  family  in  which 


Life  in   Western  New   York  6i 

the  parents  were  at  variance.  He  brought  them  to- 
gether and  begged  them  for  their  children's  sake 
to  love  each  other  and  to  live  as  a  family  ought 
to.  I  proposed  a  season  of  prayer,  and  I  led  and 
the  colonel  followed.  The  parties  wept  on  their 
knees,  got  up  and  confessed  to  each  other  and 
healed  all  manner  of  differences.  I  worked  on  four 
weeks  longer  up  into  the  month  of  August.  We 
reached  out  into  the  country  north  and  south, 
gathered  the  people  at  the  school  house  and  in  the 
groves  and  preached  to  them  Jesus  and  the  resur- 
rection. All  classes  were  reached,  believed  and 
confessed  the  Saviour.  Before  I  left.  Col.  Gary 
offered  the  Presbyterian  church  a  lot  for  a  meeting 
house,  and  started  a  subscription  with  $ioo. 
$2,000  were  raised  to  build  a  church.  Seven- 
ty persons  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Fifty  with  the  Methodist  and  thirty-five  with 
the  Free  Will  Baptist.  Over  200  professed 
conversion  at  our  meetings.  Many  were  converted 
who  came  from  adjoining  towns.  I  saw  the  fruits 
cf  those  meetings  years  afterward  in  Michigan. 
An  elder  from  an  adjoining  town  told  me  that  for 
years  after  they  had  persons  offer  themselves  for 
membership,  and,  on  asking  when  and  where  they 
received  their  first  religious  impressions,  they 
replied:  "At  the  Caryville  meeting  when  they 
met  in  the  hall."     An  Academy  was  soon  organized 


62  ^ipy  y^(^^s  on  the  Skirmish  Li?ie 


in  the  building  where  the  meetings  were  held. 
Col.  Gary  left  money  as  an  endowment  for  the 
school  at  his  death.  The  church  was  built  the 
next  season  and  I  was  asked  to  go  over  and  dedi- 
cate it  which  I  did. 

On  returning  to  Middleport,  I  commenced  a 
meeting  there  in  the  Methodist  church.  God 
poured  out  a  spirit  of  prayer  on  the  few  faithful 
Christians  of  that  place.  It  was  a  wrestling  spirit 
that  God  gave  us  which  unsealed  the  waters  of  life 
to  that  people.  God  gave  me  the  indwelling 
power  in  preaching  His  gospel.  It  was  the  first 
effort  any  evangelistic  denomination  of  Christians 
had  made  for  years.  The  Holy  Spirit  gave  us  an 
earnest  of  what  He  was  waiting  to  do  when  His 
children  would  believe,  receive,  and  confess  Him 
before  that  people.  There  were  twenty  hopeful 
conversions  as  the  fruits  of  these  meetings.  It  was 
the  morning  star  of  hope  for  Middleport.  The 
converts  divided  between  the  Methodist  and  Pres- 
byterian churches.  This  meeting  added  to  the 
graces  as  well  as  the  numbers  of  the  churches. 

On  one  of  the  Sabbath  mornings  of  January, 
1843,  as  I  attempted  to  reach  our  place  of  worship 
with  my  horse  and  cutter,  I  was  met  by  a  cyclone 
that  turned  me  back.  As  I  returned  to  my  house 
and  stepped  out  of  my  cutter,  I  was  struck  by  the 
end  of  a  flying  board  which  broke  the  outer  bone 


Work  in   Western  New  York  63 

on  my  left  leg,  half  way  between  the  ankle  and  the 
knee,  which  confined  me  some  weeks  to  my  room. 
"When  I  was  able  to  be  out,  I  found  there  was  quite 
an  interest  in  our  congregation,  as  I  began  to 
move  among  the  people.  It  is  to  the  Rev.  Jedediah 
Burchard,  that  I  owe  most  under  God  for  my  suc- 
cess in  revival  efforts.  I  was  with  him  more  or  less 
for  three  years  when  a  student.  I  learned  from 
him  how  to  conduct  such  efforts  and  the  secret  of 
success  in  them.  It  is  this:  waiting  on  God  until 
you    are  endued  with  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

During  the  month  of  April,  he  came  to  my 
assistance  here  and  gave  us  two  weeks'  services. 
Twenty  were  added  to  the  church  of  Middleport 
as  the  fruits  of  this  meeting.  Most  of  these  con- 
verts were  young  men  and  women  connected  with 
our  Academy  and  of  an  interesting  class  who  are 
useful  in  the  church  of  Christ.  Early  in  March  I 
commenced  preaching  once  every  Sabbath  at 
Gosport,  six  miles  west  of  Middleport;  returning 
and  preaching  at  Middleport  in  the  evening  of  the 
same  day. 

This  on  the  whole  was  a  sad  year  to  us.  God 
was  schooling  us  in  affliction.  My  limb  had  not 
fully  recovered,  when  dear  Margaret  Elizabeth 
was  taken  with  the  whooping  cough.  Not  having 
fully  recovered  from  the  long  illness  of  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lungs  in  the  winter   of    1842,  we   were 


64  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

fearful  of  the  influence  of  this  cough  on  her.  She 
soon  began  to  droop  under  its  strain  upon  her  con- 
stitution. She  was  subject  to  spasms  when  cough- 
ing. Consequently  she  was  carefully  watched  In 
the  dead  of  the  night  she  was  taken  with  a  spasm. 
I  sprung  out  of  bed,  took  her  in  my  arms  and 
ere  I  was  aware  she  fell  back  dead,  before  we 
realized  she  was  in  such  danger.  This  took  place 
on  the  14th  of  March.  Margaret  was  four  years, 
four  months  and  two  days  old.  We  buried  her 
in  the  cemetery  where  sleep  my  father  and  mother. 
We  removed  the  body  of  her  brother,  Elisha  Bald- 
win. Sister  and  brother  sleep  side  by  side  in  hope 
of  the  resurrection. 

The  remainder  of  this  year  was  given  to  Gosport 
and  Middleport,  with  a  growing  interest  in  both 
congregations. 

The  year  of  1844,  was  also  given  to  these  fields 
and  intervening  school  districts.  On  the  29th  of 
March,  1844,  my  wife  gave  birth  to  a  second  son 
whom  we  named  after  the  two  grandfathers,  John 
Baldwin.  He  had  a  delicate  constitution,  was 
of  lovely  disposition,  a  very  promising  boy.  The 
year  1845  was  entirely  given  to  Middleport.  We 
raised  money  sufficient  to  build  a  Presbyterian 
church  on  the  lot  owned  by  the  society  which  was 
dedicated  in  December  of  this  year.  I  was  assisted 
in  dedication  by  the  Rev.  A.  T.  Hopkins,    D.D.  of 


Work  in   Western  New  York  65 

Buffalo  and  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Wisner  of  Lockport. 
Dr.  Hopkins  preached  the  sermon  and  Dr.  Wisner 
made  the  dedicatory  prayer.  We  now  had  a  good 
church  house  and  a  respectable  congregation.  We 
thought  we  had  a  degree  of  prosperity  when  there 
was  reason  to  hope  for  a  permanent  growth  of  the 
church  and  congregation. 

On  the  2ist  of  December  of  this  year,  God 
blessed  us  with  a  third  son,  a  healthy  boy.  We 
named  him  Charles  Linsley  after  a  favorite  uncle 
of  his  mother. 

When  we  came  to  the  period  for  making  arrange- 
ment for  the  year  1846  my  expectations  for  support 
at  Middleport  were  not  realized.  I  had  devoted  my 
entire  time  to  them  for  the  year  1845  o^  3-  salary 
that  did  not  meet  the  expenses  of  my  family.  I 
had  raised  every  dollar  we  had  for  the  new  church. 
I  took  them  in  1841  when  to  other  ministers  there 
seemed  no  hope  of  doing  anything  to  save  that 
church.  I  made  a  great  sacrifice  to  give  them  an 
academic  school  which  gave  us  the  youth  out 
of  which  we  gathered  a  congregation,  and 
revived  and  built  up  a  church  of  some  fifty 
members,  and  had  sacrificed  my  time  for  1845  to 
secure  them  a  church.  I  had  a  right  to  expect 
they  would  now  make  some  sacrifice  to  sustain  me 
with  a  salary  that  would  support  my  growing 
family.     They  seemed  to  feel  that  because  I    had 


66  Fifty  Yeais  07i  the  Skirmish  Line 

sacrificed  for  them  1  would  still  do  it.  I  had 
reached  a  point  beyond  which  I  must  not  go  any 
farther.  It  was  a  sacrifice  of  the  property  I  had 
fitted  up  there.  I  remained  with  them  until  June 
of  1846,  when  I  was  invited  to  Liverpool,  a  subur- 
ban town  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  I  gave  nine  years  to 
Niagara  county.  Three  years  and  a  half  were 
given  to  Wilson  during  this  time,  during  which  I 
received  one  hundred  and  three  to  that  church,  one 
half  of  whom  were  heads  of  families.  Thirty-five 
years  elapsed  before  I  could  visit  them.  When 
I  did,  and  preached  to  them  on  the  Sabbath,  I 
was  stopping  with  the  only  elder  left  of  those  choice 
men  I  found  in  1837.  He  said  to  me:  "Brother 
Sherwood,  you  see  that  the  meeting  house  you  left 
has  undergone  some  changes  and  you  are  respon- 
sible for  these  changes  that  have  taken  place,  and 
for  the  expenses  we  have  been  to  to  effect  them,  by 
the  course  you  adopted  in  going  out  into  the  school 
districts  and  holding  those  meetings  you  did,  with 
the  conversions  that  followed.  The  people  from 
those  districts  coming  in,  filled  the  house  you  left. 
We  first  knocked  off  one  end  and  put  on  fifteen 
feet.  The  growth  of  the  congregation  was  such 
that  they  filled  up  this  added  space  in  a  few 
years.  Then  we  knocked  off  the  side  of  the  house 
and  put  on  ten  feet  and  that  filled  up  and  crowded 
the  choir  so  much  that  they  demanded  more  room, 


Work  in   Western  New  York  67 

and  we  knocked  off  the  other  end,  put  in  an 
orchestra  and  pulpit."  I  lay  down  this  principle: 
that  the  gospel  is  of  such  superlative  importance  to 
all  persons,  that  to  those  who  do  not  come 
where  the  gospel  is  preached,  it  should  be  carried 
through  school  house  efforts  in  the  country,  or 
cottage  meetings  in  the  cities;  lest  the  blood  of  the 
lost  be  found  on  our  garments,  in  the  great  day  of 
solemn  review.  The  fruits  of  the  five  and  a  half 
years  given  to  Niagara  county  in  evangelistic  work 
in  1841, — '42,  according  to  the  Presbyterial  report 
for  these  years,  were  ']66  hopeful  conversions,  559 
added  on  confession,  and  60  by  letter,  bringing  a 
number  of  churches  to  self  support.  It  was  during 
these  years  that  glorious  revival  at  Caryville  took 
place  in  which  there  were  at  least  two  hundred 
hopeful  conversions.  The  nine  years  in  Niagara 
county  were  precious  years.  The  work  was  per- 
manent. After  I  came  to  Missouri,  I  was  invited 
by  their  stated  clerk  to  return  to  them  and  go 
over  the  field  again.     Circumstances  forbade. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CENTRAL  NEW  YORK. 

On  a  more  careful  survey  of  Liverpool  I  found 
it  a  village  of  about  tw^elve  hundred,  a  mixed  mul- 
titude, of  salt  manufacturers,  canal  boatmen, 
mechanics,  and  day  laborers,  surrounded  on  three 
sides  by  an  intelligent  farming  population. 

On  entering  upon  work  in  my  new  field,  the 
first  thing  was  the  remodeling  of  the  Sunday  School. 
This  necessitated  my  taking  the  superintendency 
of  the  school.  I  preached  twice  on  the  Sabbath 
at  the  church  and  gave  a  third  service  in  the 
country. 

On  the  13th  of  August  of  this  year  brother 
Charles,  aged  thirty-two,  died,  surrounded  by 
everything  that  made  life  desirable. 

We  went  forward  very  pleasantly  in  our  new  field 
with  an  increasing  congregation  with  nothing  of 
special  interest  until  the  close  of  the  boating 
season.  It  had  been  the  custom  of  the  boatmen 
at  the  close,  of  navigation  to  have  a  general  jollifi- 
cation, drink  at  every  saloon,  and  keep  the  town 
awake  by  their   wild  orgies    and  general   parade, 

m 


Central  New    York  69 

They  woke  up  one  man,  who  the  next  morning  on 
meeting  some  of  the  business  men  of  the  town, 
asked  them  if  that  was  the  way  that  Liverpool 
celebrated  the  return  of  the  boatmen.  The  answer 
was,  "The  boys  must  have  a  good  time  once  a 
year.  Last  evening  the  saloons  had  their  pull  at 
the  boatmen,  of  what  is  left  the  gamblers  will  be 
sure  to  get  their  share;  and  there  will  not  be  much 
left  for  wives  and  children."  I  then  put  this  ques- 
tion to  quite  a  circle  of  business  men  that  had 
gathered  around:  "Do  the  business  men  of  this 
town  look  on  and  see  these  saloons  and  gamblers 
rob  the  laboring  men  without  any  remonstrance.? 
For  one  L  do  not  propose  to  let  such  a  state  of 
things  pass  without  making  an  honest  effort  to  stop 
it."  "We  have  tried  to  correct  it,"  they  said,  "but 
it  is  of  no  use.  You  can  not  stop  it."  "I  propose 
to  try  my  hand,"  I  replied.  I  returned  to  my 
study  taking  with  me  a  young  man  who  was  at 
home  from  New  York  city  on  a  short  visit.  We 
consulted  together  and  I  drew  the  following  paper: 

•Attention,  Boatmen! 

"Captain  and  all  hands  are  invited  to  meet  at 
the  Presbyterian  church  on  next  Sabbath  evening 
at  7  o'clock,  at  which  time  a  plan  will  be  submitted 
how  every  boatman  may  be  made  rich.  Seats  free. 
Good  music.      Come  one,  come  all." 


70  J^ifiy  Years  07i  the  Skirfnish  Line 

I  went  into  my  study  to  develop  the  plan,  and 
had  it  ready  in  time. 

My  study  was  near  the  sidewalk  leading  to  the 
church.  The  tramp  began  as  soon  as  the  first  bell 
rung.  When  I  entered  the  church  at  the  time 
appointed,  I  thought  all  the  boatmen  of  Syracuse 
as  well  as  all  Liverpool  were  there.  The  choir 
had  made  special  preparation  for  the  occasion.  I 
took  for  my  text  the  words  of  Moses  to  his  father- 
in-law,  Hobab,  "Come  thou  with  us;  and  we  will 
do  thee  good,  for  God  hath  spoken  good  concerning 
Israel."  After  giving  a  history  of  the  text,  I 
remarked  to  those  present,  "You  have  had  such 
invitations  extended  to  you  before,  by  Sabbath 
breakers,  by  the  saloon  keepers,  the  harlot,  the 
gambler,  the  pleasure  seeker.  Did  any  of  these 
parties  keep  their  promises  to  you?  What  good 
did  any  of  you  experience  from  any  of  those }  They 
were  like  the  promises  of  the  devil  to  our  Lord. 
Here  is  the  promise  of  God  who  cannot  lie,  that 
He  will  do  you  good.  He  did  me  good.  He  will 
do  you  good.  If  you  come  with  us,  we  will  do 
you  good.  Our  ways  are  pleasant.  God  hath 
spoken  good  concerning  us.  There  is  peace  in  the 
ways  of  religion.  The  man  who  fears  God  shall 
not  want  any  good  thing.  He  has  God  for  his 
guide,  his  kecpcr\  no  good  thing  will  He  withhold 
from  those  who  walk  uprightly.     To  become    rich 


Central  New   York  71 


you  must  start  right  and  do  right  and  persevere  in 
the  ways  of  well  doing.  The  plan  by  which  every 
boatman  may  become  rich  will  require  a  course  of 
lectures  for  its  development.  You  who  would  like 
such  a  course  of  lectures  are  requested  to  manifest 
it  by  rising  to  your  feet."  Three  fourths  of  that 
large  company  arose  ere  I  had  the  sentence  out. 
I  announced  for  the  next  lecture,  "How  boatmen 
should  spend  their  time  out  of  the  season  of  navi- 
gation." Text:  "Diligent  in  business,  fervent  in 
spirit,  serving  the  Lord."  After  lecture  we  opened 
an  evening  school  with  thirty  that  could  neither 
read  or  write.  Before  navigation  opened  they  all 
could  read,  write  and  reckon  up  an  account  in 
figures. 

The  second  lecture  was,  "Savings'  Bank  for  Spare 
Money  rather  than  the  Saloon  Drawer."  Text: 
Haggai  1:5,  6,  Boatmen  earn  money  and  put  into 
bags  that  have  holes  in  them,  burn  it  up  in  cigars, 
drop  in  the  saloon  drawer,  etc.  Afterwards,  we 
started  a  savings'  bank. 

The  third  lecture  was  on  the  evils  of  intoxicat- 
ing drinks. 

The  fourth  lecture  was  on  the  curses  that  come 
to  the  man  who  puts  the  bottle  to  his  neighbor's 
lips.  The  fruit  of  these  lectures  was  an  organiza- 
tion of  a  lodge  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance. 

Scores  of  both  sexes  came  into  this  lodge,  among 


72  ^ifty  y^ars  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

them  were  the  worst  of  drunkards.  Some  of  the 
scenes  that  I  witnessed  growing  out  of  the  refor- 
mation of  drunken  husbands  will  be  thelast  to  fade 
from  my  memory. 

The  next  three  lectures  were  on  gambling.  The 
first  answered  the  question,  What  is  gambling? 
The  second  dealt  with  the  evils  of  gambling.  The 
third  pointed  out  the  fruits  of  gambling.  After 
hearing  my  first  lecture  on  gambling,  they  said: 
"He  is  an  old  hand,  we  can  learn  something,  we 
will  go  again."  There  was  quite  an  influx  of 
strangers  as  well  as  a  full  representation  of  Liver- 
pool people.  I  cut  right  and  left  on  the  evils  of 
gambling.  "How  does  he  know  so  much  about 
us.?  He  must  have  been  there,"  they  said.  The 
fruits  of  gam.bling  drew  a  full  house  and  the  last 
twenty  minutes  of  the  lecture  the  audience  was  as 
solemn  as  any  I  ever  spoke  to.  These  lectures 
drove  gamblers  out  of  Liverpool.  They  could  not 
rent  a  place  and  went  over  into  an  old  canal  boat. 
About  the  close  of  the  lectures  on  gambling,  I 
chanced  to  open  a  Syracuse  daily  paper.  There  I 
saw  a  full  column  on  the  work  being  done  in  Liver- 
pool by  a  course  of  lectures  unique  in  character  and 
productive  of  results  in  reforming  a  large  number 
of  men  in  that  hitherto  immoral  village.  In  the 
years  that  I  remained  in  Liverpool  the  fruits  of 
those  lectures  were  more  and  more  manifest  in  the 


Central  New   York  73 

uplifting  in  moral  character  and  in  the  education 
diffused  by  the  night  schools.  The  mistake,  if  any, 
was  in  not  going  right  forward  with  revival  efforts, 
preaching  to  them  plainly  the  gospel,  urging  them 
to  lay  hold  upon  salvation  and  not  stop  at  the  half 
way  house  of  morality  as  some  of  them  did.  The 
success  of  the  lectures  in  the  reformation  of  morals 
of  the  men  and  the  notices  it  called  forth  in  the 
daily  and  weekly  papers  brought  to  me  calls  from 
the  brethren  of  Onondaga  Presbyterian  to  come  to 
their  help  in  gospel  meetings.  In  the  fall  of  1847 
I  was  invited  by  the  Rev.  R.  C.  Cleveland,  the 
father  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  who 
was  then  a  lad  in  roundabouts,  to  assist  them  in  a 
service  of  meetings  at  Fayetteville,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  I  was  his 
guest  for  two  weeks.  I  found  Rev.  Cleveland  one 
of  the  most  perfect  gentlemen  I  have  ever  met. 
His  noble  wife  was  a  true  Maryland  lady  who 
presided  with  dignity  and  grace  over  her  large 
family.  The  two  weeks  of  special  meeting,  were 
crowned  with  the  rich  blessing  of  the  Great  Head 
of  the  church  in  the  impartation  of  spiritual  power 
to  the  church  members  and  the  marked  conversions 
of  youth  and  heads  of  families  in  his  congregation 
who  in  due  time  became  members  of  his  church. 
In  addition  to  my  pastoral  duties  at  Liverpool,  I 
did  what  I  could  for  a  number  of  vacant  pulpits, 


^4  F'ifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

Jamesville,  Onondaga  Valley,  Oneida  Lake, 
Ridgeville  and  Amboy.  I  also  gave  more  or  less  time 
to  preaching  in  destitute  regions  north  and  east  of 
Liverpool.  While  the  growth  of  the  Sabbath  school 
and  church  was  steady,  there  was  no  marked  re- 
vival of  religion.  Yet  there  were  additions  to  the 
church  during  the  years  I  was  in  Liverpool.  Im- 
portant results  were  brought  about  during  our 
labors  there,  that  our  successors  entered  into  and 
were  greatly  profited  by  them.  During  my  last 
year  there,  1850,  I  made  a  special  effort  to  lift  the 
congregation  above  their  dependence  upon  the  Home 
Missionary  Society  to  one  of  self  support.  The 
plan  that  I  adopted  was  to  go  to  the  tax  roll  of  the 
county  and  get  the  amount  of  property  on  which 
they  paid  taxes,  in  order  that  I  might  ascertain 
what  per  cent  each  property  holder  was  paying  for 
the  support  of  the  gospel  among  them.  The  ex- 
hibit shamed  them  out  of  their  miserly  spirit. 
They  found  no  difficulty  in  lifting  the  support  of 
the  Gospel  above  dependence  on  Home  Missionary 
help. 

The  years  that  we  spent  in  Liverpool  had  their 
dark  days  as  well  as  those  that  were  full  of  sun- 
shine. Our  living  children  were  young  and  subject 
to  the  diseases  of  childhood.  Our  dear  son  John 
Baldwin  went  down  to  his  early  grave  from  the 
after  results  of  the   measles   during    our   residence 


Central  New   York  75 

there.  This  dear  boy  was  a  marked  case  of  the 
early  development  of  the  fruits  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
in  the  heart  of  a  child,  not  quite  five  years  old. 
As  I  was  sitting  by  him  one  day  in  his  child's  bed, 
he  looked  up  to  me  and  said:  "Papa,  do  you  think 
that  the  Lord  Jesus  will  suffer  naughty  children  to 
come  unto  Him?"  This  question  was  the  prompt- 
ing of  his  own  feelings.  Nothing  had  been  recently 
said  that  would  have  led  to  such  a  question.  I 
answered  this  question  by  relating  to  him  how  the 
Lord  Jesus  became  a  child  that  He  might  know  the 
mind  and  the  feelings  of  a  child  and  after  He  grew 
to  be  a  man,  He  told  his  disciples  to  suffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  Him,  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  He  drank  in  this  instruction 
with  such  attention  as  showed  he  comprehended 
it,  and  rested  upon  it.  From  that  time  to  the 
end  of  his  young  life,  some  two  months,  there  was 
nothing  that  would  interest  him  as  did  the  story 
of  Christ's  love  for  little  children.  He  recovered 
from  the  attack  of  sciatica  from  which  he  was  then 
suffering;  and  was  quite  well  before  taken  with  the 
measels.  He  was  very  fond  of  a  picture  book  I 
gave  him  for  a  Christmas  present.  In  it  were  a 
good  many  Bible  scenes.  There  was  no  picture 
that  took  his  attention,  like  the  one  where  our 
Lord  was  extended  upon  the  cross.  His  mother 
was  holding  him  in  her  arms  on    the  day  he   died. 


76  ^ifiy  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 


She  was  telling  him  of  a  little  girl  who  was  sick 
near  our  house.  He  said,  "Ma,  I  do  not  want  to 
hear  about  her."  "What  do  you  want  to  hear 
about?"  "I  want  you  should  tell  me  about  the 
Lord  Jesus." 

As  an  illustration  of  his  attention  to  religious 
duties,  one  evening  we  left  the  children  with  our 
housekeeper.  She  prepared  their  supper  and 
they  gathered  around  the  table.  His  other  sister 
and  younger  brother  commenced  eating;  but  John 
Baldwin  did  not  eat.  He  was  asked  why  he  did  not 
eat  his  supper  with  the  other  children.  His  answer 
was  that  God's  blessing  had  not  been  asked.  His 
mother  asked  the  blessing  when  I  was  away  so  that 
he  had  never  ate  until  a  blessing  had  been  asked 
at  the  table. 

Our  dear  son  died  on  February  14th,  1849,  aged 
four  years,  ten  months,  and  twenty-six  days.  I 
altered  a  poem  that  was  composed  by  a  friend  on 
the  death  of  our -daughter  Margaret  Elizabeth. 

TO  MY  SON  JOHN  BALDWIN. 

'In  bliss' young  hour  he  faded  like 

All  cherished  things  below. 
As  buds  may  wither  on  the  stem 

Ere  yet  the  roses  blow, 
Ah!  many  loved  thee,  many  gazed 

Upon  thy  cherub  brow; 
Earthly  hopes  centered  in  thee, 

But  alas!  they  are  blasted  now. 


Central  New    York  77 


Brief  was  thy  stay  on  earth, dear  boy; 

Here  thou  mightst  not  long  remain, 
Thine  was  an  exotic  growth, 

Thy     mission  done,  and  heaven  gained, 
Thou  didst  pass  death's  dark  vale, 

Cherub  angels  led  the  way, 
And  conveyed  thy  young  spirit  safe 

To  the  realms  of  endless  day. 
There  thou  mayst  of  God  more  fully  learn. 

There  thou  hast  the  long  wished  for  spring  attained 
There  with  brother  and  sister  gone  before. 

Share  all  the  bliss,  death  to  thee   hath  gained." 

He  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Liverpool. 
The  children  and  youth  of  that  place  erected  a 
neat  little  monument  to  his  memory.  Sweet 
sleeper,  rest  in  the  arms  of  Jesus,  until  He  shall 
awake  thee! 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1850,  a  daughter  was 
given  us  to  fill  the  great  vacancy  made  in  our 
family  circle.  This  was  our  sixth  child,  which  we 
named  after  the  two  grandmothers,  Sarah    Lucy. 

When  I  closed  my  labors  at  Liverpool,  I  had  no 
place  in  view.  I  made  the  field  for  future  work  a 
subject  for  special  prayer.  Having  spent  some 
time  in  prayer,  I  went  down  to  the  postoffice  for 
my  daily  mail. 

I  was  handed  a  letter  in  an  unknown  hand  and 
from  an  unknown  place.  I  opened  it.  To  my 
surprise  it  was  a  letter  from  Pitcher,  Chenango 
county,  N.  Y.,  inviting  me  to  visit  them   as  a  sup- 


78  ^ifly  y^ii^s  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

ply  for  the  church  at  that  place.  Not  knowing  the 
writer  nor  the  place,  I  started  out  to  find  some  one 
who  knew  where  it  was.  After  quite  a  search,  I 
found  a  man  who  was  acquainted  there,  who  gave 
me  a  good  report  of  the  place  and  people  and 
advised  me  by  all  means  to  go  and  visit  them.  I 
received  that  letter  as  answer  to  my  prayer  where 
to  go.  I  made  my  arrangements  and  visited  them 
that  week;  and  spent  the  following  Sabbath  with 
them.  I  was  kindly  received.  They  gave  me  a 
fine  congregation  on  the  Sabbath.  After  having 
two  sermons  they  called  a  congregational  meeting 
and  unanimously  voted  me  a  call  to  become  their 
pastor.  I  preached  at  night,  left  the  next  morning 
for  Liverpool,  and  returned  in  two  weeks  for  a 
more  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  people.  I 
found  an  open  door,  a  people  hungry  for  the  word, 
and  willing  to  do  their  duty.  I  could  not  say  nay 
to  them.  They  offered  to  send  their  teams  for  my 
goods  and  a  carriage  for  my  family.  Furthermore 
they  offered  to  put  on  an  addition  to  the  parsonage 
as  soon  as  it  could  be  done.  I  accepted  their  call 
and  took  a  carriage  to  bring  back  my  family. 
They  sent  on  three  teams  to  remove  my  goods 
forty  miles  by  wagon.  Before  I  could  get  back  a 
revival  of  God's  work  had  commenced.  I  put  in 
the  sickle  to  this  field  white  for  the  harvest  and 
glorious  sheaves  were  gathered.     Thirty-five  came 


Central  New    York  79 

into  the  church  at  our  January  communion.  Seven 
entered  the  ministry  as  the  fruit  of  the  wonderful 
outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  connection  with 
that  revival  of  God's  work,  which  spread  up  and 
down  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Otselic  River. 

God  led  me  there  in  the  right  time.  I  never 
doubted  from  the  day  I  found  that  letter  in  the 
postoffice  after  a  season  of  prayer  that  it  was 
God's  ordering  to  take  me  away  from  all  my  old 
associates  and  associations  and  place  me  in  that 
field  which  had  been  left  so  long  without  spiritual 
culture,  yet  well  sowed  with  the  seed  of  the  king- 
dom. The  reapers  had  not  been  there  for  many 
years.  God  sent  me  to  reap  and  train  up  from  that 
large  circle  of  youth  those  who  would  go  forth  into 
His  vineyard  and  do  a  great  work  for  Him  in  other 
fields. 

My  work  for  185 1  was  training  those  converts 
we  had  received  from  the  revival  for  Christian  work. 
We  had  anefficientSabbath  school  with  experienced 
teachers.  We  began  to  teach  their  teachers  the 
importance  of  Christian  work  in  the  Sabbath 
school.  We  organized  a  young  people's  mission- 
ary society  and  associated  with  it  a  literary  society. 
These  societies  met  monthly.  At  their  meetings 
a  paper  called  the  "Evening  Star"  rose  monthly  on 
the  horizon  of  Pitcher,  and  shed  its  cheering  light 
on  that  inland  town.     Out  of  its  contributors  came 


8o  ^if^y  y^^^^  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

quite  a  number  of  literary  characters,  in  the  person 
of  ministers  of  the  gospel,  eminent  physicians  and 
school  teachers.  It  was  marvelous  what  improve- 
ment these  youth  made  in  Christian  character  and 
literary  persuits. 

Most  of  the  converts  of  the  revival  of  185c  stood 
firm,  grew  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  God's 
word.  On  a  more  careful  survey  of  this  field  for 
Christian  effort,  I  found  that  it  was  limited.  Three 
miles  up  the  river  was  a  sister  church.  Four 
miles  below  was  another.  Between  our  churches, 
above  and  below,  there  were  sandwiched  in  Meth- 
odist churches.  The  only  way  to  gather  in  new 
families  was  to  go  over  the  hills  and  persuade 
them  to  come  to  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Otselic. 
The  year  1852  saw  but  the  repetition  of  the  labors 
of  the  previous  one.  When  we  went  over  the  hills 
and  held  meetings  in  the  school  houses,  it  was 
difficult  to  induce  the  people  to  come  steadily  to 
the  village  for  worship.  I  was  invited  to  assist 
neighboring  ministers  and  saw  blessed  fruit. 
By  repeated  visits  to  one  town,  I  effected 
the  organization  of  a  new  church.  Our  work 
seemed  to  settle  down  about  to  this,  care  for  the 
flock,  feed  the  sheep,  feed  the  lambs.  It  gave  me 
a  fine  range  for  study.  These  years  were  furnishing 
me  for  the  after  years  of  my  ministry  when  there 
was  neither  time  nor  opportunity  for  study. 


Central  New    York  8i 

From  year  to  year  the  ripe  fruits  of  the  chuich 
were  plucked  by  the  cold  hand  of  death  and  gath- 
ered to  the  home  above.  There  were  some  pain- 
ful instances  where  death  came  to  those  who  had 
grieved  the  Holy  Spirit  or  had  procrastinated  the 
needful  preparation  until  it  was  too  late.  It  was 
terrible  to  hear  them  mourn  at  the  last  and  exclaim: 
"Oh,  if  I  had  accepted  salvation  when  the  Holy 
Spirit  strove  with  me  under  such  a  sermon;  but 
now  I  am  dying  without  hope;  and  the  blackness 
of  despair  is  overshadowing  my  death  bed!" 

Though  there  may  be  in  country  fields  a  same- 
ness from  year  to  year,  still  there  will  be  startling 
scenes,  which  will  throw  a  pall  over  the  entire 
community.  One  such  occurred  in  Pitcher  in  1853. 
A  young  man  was  left  with  five  other  children  by 
the  sudden  death  of  a  drunken  father,  the  mother 
dying  from  a  broken  heart.  The  children  had 
been  cared  for  by  as  many  families.  The  eldest 
son,  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  in  a  drinking 
spree  at  the  hotel  in  town,  fell  from  the  piazza, 
fractured  his  skull  and  died  in  a  short  time. 

The  enemies  of  temperance  took  charge  of  his 
funeral,  selecting  a  minister  they  could  control  to 
preach  the  funeral  sermon.  He  had  preached  an 
inappropriate  sermon  and  as  he  closed  he  turned  to 
me  as  I  sat  in  the  pulpit  with  him,  saying:  "Mr. 
Sherwood,  use  your  liberty."     I  did   so,    knowing 


82  Fifty  Years  07i  the  Skirmish  Li?ie 

that  in  doing  so  I  should  bring  upon  myself  all  the 
opposition  that  anti-temperance  power  could  com- 
bine against  me.  I  wanted  God  on  my  side,  then 
I  did  not  care  who  was  against  me.  I  alluded  to 
the  painful  circumstances  under  which  we  were 
assembled.  I  then  asked  who  was  responsible  for 
this  appalling  scene.  Not  the  man  that  sold 
him  the  whiskey.  Not  the  men  who  licensed 
him  to  sell  whiskey.  "I  charge  the  guilt  upon  the 
legal  voters  of  this  township  who  voted  to  authorize 
the  Excise  Board  to  grant  a  license.  The  blood  of 
this  young  man  cries  to  God  against  every  voter 
who  authorized  that  license.  Blood  has  a  voice 
that  will  enter  into  the  ears  of  the  God  of  Justice." 
The  town  election  was  just  at  hand.  "Will  you  at 
the  coming  election  endorse  this  horrible  deed  by 
authorizing  this  board  or  another  which  may  be 
chosen  to  license  another  fnan  to  repeat  the  bloody 
scene?"  Then  I  asked  Almighty  God  to  wake  up 
the  consciences  of  that  congregation  to  do  as 
they  would  wish  they  had  when  they  should  meet 
the  young  man  whose  body  was  in  the  coffin  before 
us  at  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ  Jesus,  and  that 
this  event  might  be  sanctified  to  all  present.  That 
prayer  was  answered.  On  the  day  of  election,  a 
temperance  board  was  chosen  and  no  more  licenses 
were  granted  while  I  remained  in  Pitcher.  I  never 
saw  such  an  excitement  as  there  was  in  that  meet- 


Central  New   York  83 

ing  house  when  the  congregation  was  dismissed. 
The  enemies  of  temperance  were  caught  in  a  trap 
they  caused  to  be  set.  Their  consciences  became 
their  own  accusers.  They  reahzed  that  truth  was 
mighty  and  had  prevailed.  One  bold  stroke  at  the 
right  time  will  do  tremendous  execution.  The  great 
secret  of  success  is  to  dare  to  do  right  at  the  right 
time.  It  required  the  same  moral  courage  to  stand 
where  I  stood  that  day  that  it  would  to  face  a 
charge  on  the  field  of  battle.  God  alone  can  give 
it.  It  is  that  power  that  our  Lord  promised  should 
be  given  those  that  will  witness  for  Him. 

Towards  the  close  of  this  year  I  received  an 
invitation  to  visit  my  brother,  Dr.  Willis  M.  Sher- 
wood of  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  which  I 
accepted.  I  went  by  way  of  New  York  city,  Phil- 
adelphia, Chesapeake  Bay  to  Norfolk  and  then  by 
R.  R.  to  Wilmington.  After  spending  a  week  there, 
1  took  a  trip  into  the  interior  of  the  state,  where  I 
saw  slavery  in  its  mildest  form  as  it  existed  in  a 
farming  community.  I  preached  most  of  a  week 
preparatory  for  a  communion  season,  spending  the 
Sabbath  there.  Returning  to  the  city,  my  brother 
said,  "If  you  want  to  attend  a  slave  sale,  you  will 
find  one  at  the  market  to-day."  I  went  and  saw 
an  old  wagon  and  horse  cried  off.  Then  a  colored 
woman  was  put  up  on  the  same  block  and  she  was 
cried  off  in  the  same  way. 


84  F'ifty  Years  on  the  Skirviish  Line 

Finishing  my  visit,  I  returned  by  way  of  the  city 
of  Richmond,  the  tomb  of  Washington,  and  the 
city  of  Washington,  stopping  at  each  place  long 
enough  to  take  in  what  was  of  special  interest.  I 
then  left  directly  for  home,  and  found  all  well.  I 
resumed  my  pastoral  work  for  the  remainder  of  1853 
and  1854,  with  the  church  and  congregation  keeping 
up  to  their  usual  standard  of  numbers  and  interest. 

At  the  spring  meeting  of  Cortland  Presbytery  for 
1855,  I  was  chosen  commissioner  to  the  General 
Assembly  to  meet  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  at  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  on  the  third  Thursday  of 
May. 

On  my  way  to  St.  Louis,  I  spent  a  Sabbath  in 
Michigan  with  an  old  friend,  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Jones.  He  gave  me  a  very  pressing  invitation  to 
settle  in  Michigan.  I  said  to  him:  "Get  me  a 
field  and  I  will  come."  I  left  my  friend  Jones  on 
Monday  for  St.  Louis.  That  day  I  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  the  Rev  L.  L  Root,  who  was  on  his 
way  to  General  Assembly.  As  we  journeyed  we 
fell  in  company  with  divers  commissioners.  The 
question  of  moderator  was  mooted.  I  mentioned 
the  name  of  the  Rev.  William  C.  Wisner,  D.D., 
of  Lockport  and  of  Niagara  Presbytery.  The  sug- 
gestion took  and  at  the  proper  time  and  place  Dr. 
Wisner  was  elected  moderator.  This  was  my  first 
attendance  on  the  General  Assembly.      I  was  given 


Central  JSTew    York  85 

an  honorable  place  on  an  important  committee. 
This  was  my  first  visit  to  the  great  West.  I  fell 
in  love  v^ith  the  West  and  thirty-seven  years  of  my 
life's  work  have  been  given  to  that  section.  After 
the  close  of  the  assembly,  I  returned  to  my  charge 
and  settled  into  work.  I  had  not  been  at  home 
two  months  when  I  received  a  letter  from  my 
friend  Jones  saying  he  had  found  for  me  one  of  the 
best  country  fields  in  the  State  of  Michigan. 
This  letter  opened  the  question  of  making  a 
change. 

I  was  led  to  these  considerations:  I  had  worked 
up  all  the  accessible  material  in  Pitcher;  all  that  I 
could  do  there  was  to  care  for  the  sheep  and  lambs. 
There  were  ministers  that  could  do  this  work  as 
well  as  I  could,  and  would  be  satisfied  to  do  it. 
I  decided  to  leave  it,  and  go  where  I  could  find 
plenty  of  accessible  material.  In  September  of 
1855  I  visited  the  field  my  friend  had  found  for 
me.  It  was  Edwardsburgh  in  Cass  county,  Michi- 
gan, within  three  miles  of  the  south  line  of  the 
state,  on  the  border  of  a  beautiful  prairie  near  a 
small  lake,  surrounded  by  a  rich  farming  country; 
as  pleasantly  situated  as  a  country  charge  need  be. 

They  had  outgrown  their  first  house  of  worship, 
and  were  building  a  new  church  house.  I  preached 
to  them  twice  on  the  Sabbath,  and  made  such  calls 
as  I  could.     They  called  a  congregational  meeting 


86  ^^f^y  y^ctrs  on  the  Skirmish  Li7ie 

and  voted  me  a  call.  I  took  their  call.  Circum- 
stances in  my  family  demanding  my  immediate 
return  to  my  home,  I  left  the  next  morning  for 
my  family,  reached  home,  and  found  my  daughter 
with  a  broken  limb,  but  doing  well. 

Soon  after  my  return,  I  was  invited  to  Whitney's 
Point,  eighteen  miles  south  of  Pitcher  on  the  same 
river.  My  wife  was  anxious  to  have  me  visit 
Whitney's  Point.  I  did  so.  My  visit  was  accepta- 
ble to  them  and  I  was  asked  to  accept  a  call  from 
them.  I  returned  home  and  canvassed  the  two 
openings  before  me.  Mrs.  Sherwood's  parents 
were  living  at  their  home  in  Onondaga  county. 
She  wished  to  remain  as  near  them  as  she  could. 
I  visited  Whitney's  Point  again  and  concluded  to 
accept  their  call  if  they  would  perform  certain 
things.  They  were  to  call  a  meeting  on  Monday 
night  and  write  me  by  Tuesday  morning's  mail, 
the  result.  On  Tuesday  no  letter  came.  There 
was  a  daily  mail  between  the  towns.  No  mail 
Wednesday  nor  Thursday.  Friday  I  prepared  a 
letter  to  Edwardsburgh,  Mich.,  saying  I  accepted 
their  call,  provided  I  had  no  letter.  I  found  no 
letter,  and  mailed  my  letter  to  Edwardsburgh  and 
went  home  and  commenced  packing  my  goods  for 
removal  there.  That  afternoon  the  looked-for 
letter  came  from  the  north.  I  held  the  mail  long 
enough    to  say  to  the  people  of  Whiteney's  Point, 


Cefitral  New    York  87 

"Your  letter  came  this  afternoon  from  the  north; 
too  late;  I  go  to  Michigan.'  The  next  morning  a 
delegation  from  Whitney's  Point  came  up  and  asked 
me  to  recall  the  letter  sent.  I  said:  "I  cannot; 
the  hand  of  God  is  in  this.  I  dare  not  recall  it." 
My  wife  realized  there  must  have  been  an  unseen 
hand  in  keeping  back  that  letter  until  the  mail  had 
borne  away  my  acceptance  of  the  Edwardsburgh 
call.  Thirty-six  years'  work  in  Michigan  and  Mis- 
souri illustrates  what  God  had  for  me  to  do  on  the 
skirmish  line  in  the  growing  West.  The  next  Sab- 
bath I  preached  my  farewell  sermon  to  the  best 
people  I  had  ever  labored  with.  I  had  been  with 
them  iive  years  in  the  prime  of  life.  Many  of  them 
I  had  received  into  the  church;  others  I  had  mar- 
ried and  had  baptized  their  children.  They  made 
me  every  offer  I  could  have  asked  for,  yet  I  felt  I 
had  finished  my  work  there  and  I  must  leave  them. 


CHAPTER  V. 

WORK  IN  MICHIGAN. 

We  left  Pitcher  the  next  day  for  Edwardsburgh, 
Michigan,  reaching  there  the  first  week  in  Decem- 
ber, just  in  time  to  get  snugly  settled  in  their  par- 
sonage before  winter  set  in  very  cold. 

The  winter  proved  a  long  and  cold  one.  We 
worshiped  in  the  old  meeting  house  until  about 
the  first  of  February,  1856,  when  the  new  house 
was  ready  for  dedication.  I  was  assisted  in  the 
dedication  by  the  Rev.  Alfred  Bryant,  a  former 
pastor.  I  preached  the  sermon  from  Ps.  46:4. 
Rev.  Bryant  made  the  dedicatory  prayer.  Two 
weeks  after,  the  question  of  special  meetings  came 
up.  It  was  decided  to  begin  a  series  of  meetings 
on  the  last  days  of  February,  which  was  continued 
up  to  the  last  week  in  March  greatly  benefiting  the 
church  and  giving  them  over  twenty  new  members. 
These  results  gave  me  a  pleasant  introduction  to 
the  ministry  and  churches  of  that  region.  More 
than  that,  it  was  God's  seal  that  I  did  my  duty  in 
coming  to  Edwardsburgh. 

As    the    spring   opened,  the    work   to   be    done 

88 


Work  in  Michigan  89 


opened  also.  They  had  been  without  a  pastor  so 
long,  a  large  amount  of  pastoral  work  had  accumu- 
lated. I  now  found  plenty  of  accessible  material 
to  be  worked  up.  Edwardsburgh  at  that  time  was 
the  moral  and  religious  centre  of  a  large  scope  of 
country  settled  and  occupied  by  first-class  farmers. 
There  was  sharp  competition  in  the  various  de- 
nominations. They  were  well  manned  and  well 
equipped.  I  soon  learned  that  Western  people 
were  up  and  stirring,  and  they  expected  their  min- 
ister to  be  likewise.  As  I  became  acquainted  with 
the  people,  I  liked  their  make  up.  1  found  one 
family  from  Orleans  county,  N.  Y. ,  Mr.  Lewis 
Gates.  His  children  were  of  an  interesting  age. 
Three  of  them  made  a  profession  of  religion  in  the 
revival  of  religion.  I  now  had  all  the  range  I 
wanted.  I  even  found  there  was  danger  of  a 
minister  spreading  himself  until  he  made  himself 
so  thin  that  his  efforts  made  no  permanent  impres- 
sion anywhere.  I  gave  myself  to  rewriting  my 
doctrinal  sermons  and  instructing  the  converts,  and 
indoctrinating  my  hearers.  The  church  experienced 
a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  Mr.  William  H.  Bacon, 
a  man  who  always  met  every  demand  of  the  church 
and  suffering  humanity.  This  fall  we  lost  Miss 
Margaret  Foster  in  the  wreck  of  a  steamboat  on 
Lake  Superior. 

Towards  the  close  of  1856,  I  was  invited  to  the 


go  J^^fly  y^a^s  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

city  of  Elkhart,  Indiana,  nine  miles  from  Edwards- 
burgh,  to  conduct  a  series  of  gospel  meetings. 
Elkhart  was  a  business  town  on  the  Michigan 
Southern  R.  R.  and  on  the  St.  Joseph  River  in  the 
northern  part  of  Indiana.  It  was  at  that  time  the 
hot-bed  of  error.  When  they  went  to  church,  it 
was  to  hear  some  new  things.  I  made  up  my  mind 
to  try  the  power  of  Christ  crucified.  I  began 
preaching  that  man  was  lost,  dwelt  upon  his  ruined 
condition  until  conviction  took  hold  of  my  hearers. 
I  then  presented  a  crucified  Savior  as  their  only 
hope.  Some  prominent  families  believed,  received 
and  confessed  Him.  This  produced  a  great  flutter 
in  Elkhart.  They  sent  and  brought  some  of  their 
spiritualistic  teachers;  but  the  people  came  to  hear 
of  Christ  crucified.  They  sent  to  Boston,  Mass.,  and 
imported  celebrated  musicians  hoping  they  would 
draw  the  crowd  away  from  our  meetings.  God 
was  giving  the  hearing  ear,  the  understanding  heart 
and  the  obedient  will.  That  series  of  meetings 
was  a  new  era  to  Elkhart.  From  that  time  Christ 
crucified  has  had  a  high  place  in  the  confidence  of 
those  who  hold  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  There 
is  nothing  that  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation 
but  the  gospel.  I  have  made  proof  of  it  on  the 
most  brazen  faced  infidelity,  the  most  subtle  forms 
of  error,  the  most  polite  worldlings;  as  well  as  the 
grossest  forms    of   wickedness.     To  the    praise  of 


Work  in  Michigan  91 


God  I  here  record  that  the  gospel  is  the  embodied, 
concentrated  power  of  the  Godhead,  the  mightiest 
weapon  ever  wielded  for  the  subduing  of  the  oppo- 
sition of  the  carnal  mind  and  bringing  men  into 
allegiance  to  God.  My  wife  and  our  youngest 
daughter  made  a  visit  to  her  parents  in  Cicero, 
N.  Y.  After  six  weeks  I  sent  for  her.  This  visit 
made  my  wife  a  Western  woman  ever  after.  Our 
congregations  kept  up  to  about  the  same  standard. 
If  one  dropped  out,  some  one  came  in  and  filled 
the  vacancy. 

In  the  autumn  of  1857,  I  was  invited  to  Misha- 
waka  to  assist  in  a  series  of  meetings.  It  was  a 
season  of  special  interest  to  the  members  of  the 
church.  Quite  a  number  were  led  to  Christ  and 
confessed  Him  and  were  received  to  the  church,  I 
enjoyed  my  work  there,  and  it  led  to  a  permanent 
friendship  with  the  pastor,  the  oldest  minister  in 
Northern  Indiana. 

While  I  was  at  Mishawaka  the  Methodist  and 
Baptist  began  a  union  meeting  at  Edwardsburgh. 
On  returning  to  my  field  I  found  work  to  do  in  our 
church.  The  church  thought  best  to  go  in  for 
union  meeting.  Our  own  children  were  awakened 
and  wrought  upon  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  My  son  after- 
wards told  me  that  it  was  in  those  union  meetings 
he  was  taught  his  lost  and  ruined  condition.  Also 
my  eldest  daughter   had  those   revelations  of   sin 


92  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

and  salvation  which  led  her  into  the  light  of  the 
gospel.  There  were  youth  and  some  adults  bene- 
fited by  this  series  of  union  meetings.  Yet  there 
were  young  men  who  did  not  yield  to  the  claims  of 
the  gospel.  I  began  to  realize  I  was  not  holding 
the  young  men  in  my  congregation  as  I  did  in  the 
churches  I  served  in  New  York.  I  began  to  search 
for  the  reason.  It  appeared  upon  my  finding  in 
our  church  young  people  who  gave  no  evidence 
of  a  new  birth.  One  young  lady  came  to  me  and 
confessed  that  she  did  not  have  a  saving  knowledge 
of  Christ.  She  sought  and  truly  found  a  Savior 
and  walked  in  the  peace  and  love  of  the  gospel. 
When  in  that  fearful  storm  on  Lake  Superior  she 
said  to  her  brother:  "Andrew,  save  yourself  if  you 
can.  If  I  go  down  into  the  deep  it  is  well  with 
me."  They  were  both  thrown  into  the  lake,  the 
sister  sank,  the  brother  was  washed  into  a  cove 
and  rescued.  I  was  exceedingly  tried  with  the 
inpenitent  young  men  in  our  church.  I  felt  they 
were  a  reproach  to  religion,  and  counteracting  the 
work  I  tried  to  do  for  the  souls  of  others.  Yet  I 
saw  no  way  to  correct  the  evil,  or  to  remove  it. 
I  came  to  the  conclusion  I  would  endure  the  best 
I  could  this  state  of  things  until  my  fourth  year 
expired.  I  would  then  ask  Presbytery  to  dissolve 
my  relation  to  the  church  and  seek  another  field. 
Things  moved  along  pleasantly  during  the  fall  and 


Work  in  Michigan  93 


winter  of  1858  and  '59.  During  the  spring  I 
visited  Buchanan,  some  fifteen  miles  from  Edwards- 
burgh.  I  found  there  a  growing  village  on  the 
Michigan  R.  R.  running  from  Chicago  to  Detroit, 
with  a  scattered  Presbyterian  church  that  had  been 
left  for  years;  with  a  small  meeting  house  occupied 
by  the  Methodists,  until  they  seemed  to  think  that 
possession  was  nine  points  in  law.  I  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  there  was  not  only  a  church  to  be 
saved  there,  but  there  was  an  important  point  to 
be  occupied,  for  it  was  the  only  church  in  the  west- 
ern half  of  Berrien  county  with  a  population  of 
thousands.  When  Presbytery  met  in  the  fall  I 
asked  them  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation,  the 
church  uniting  with  me  in  this  request.  The  rela- 
tion was  dissolved.  Pecuniarily  it  was  an  unwise 
move,  and  the  most  unhappy  one  I  ever  made.  I 
removed  to  Buchanan  in  the  fall  of  1859.  The 
Great  Head  of  the  church  had  a  work  for  me  to 
do  there,  to  wit,  to  reestablish  that  church  and 
save  the  property. 

We  got  possession  of  the  church,  and  commenced 
services  therein.  Soon  a  Sabbath  School  was 
gathered.  With  the  scattered  families  of  the 
church  and  other  families  raised  in  Presbyterian 
faith  we  had  a  respectable  congregation.  Back- 
sliders were  reclaimed  and  sinners  were  converted. 
The  work  of  the  church  was  very  promising  during 


94  ^ifly  y^(^rs  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

the  winter  of  1859  and  '60.  My  Bible  class  grew 
until  I  was  compelled  to  give  the  afternoon  of  the 
Sabbath  to  Bible  study,  at  the  request  of  a  large 
circle  of  friends  on  the  following  conditions: 

1st.  They  should  in  all  discussions  treat  each 
other  as  gentlemen  and  ladies.  2nd.  We  would 
confine  ourselves  strictly  to  the  subject  matter  of 
the  lesson.  3rd.  I  reserved  the  right  of  closing 
the  discussion  of  any  and  all  subjects  growing  out 
of  the  lesson. 

We  began  with  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  I  have 
reason  to  know  this  Bible  class  did  great  good  in 
sapping  and  mining  the  errors  that  were  existing 
in  the  minds  of  the  class.  A  leading  physician 
made  this  statement  before  the  class:  "When  I 
began  with  you,  one  year  ago,  I  did  not  believe 
the  divinity  of  our  Savior.  I  do  now.  I  come 
now  to  the  Bible  to  be  taught.  I  accept  its  teach- 
ings and  submit  to  its  authority."  A  new  influence 
was  now  inaugurated  in  Berrien  county,  and  the 
result  was  a  growing  influence  in  the  village  and 
county  for  evangelical  religion.  It  was  an  exciting 
period  in  our  national  history.  We  passed  through 
the  summer  without  any  unpleasantness  until  the 
firing  upon  Fort  Sumter.  Families  then  began 
to  take  sides.  Soon  came  the  attack  of  the  U.  S. 
troops  in  Baltimore.  The  time  for  neutrality  had 
passed.     I  could  hold  back  no  longer.     While  the 


Work  in  Michigan  95 


blood  of  a  revolutionary  soldier  flowed  in  my  veins, 
I  did  not  propose  to  stand  idly  by  and  see  the  flag 
of  our  nation  insulted,  our  soldiers  shot  down,  and 
not  speak  out  as  a  man,  and  citizen,  though  min- 
ister of  the  gospel.  This  speaking  out  made  my 
situation  unpleasant. 

At  the  meeting  of  our  Presbytery  of  Kalamazoo, 
I  was  chosen  commissioner  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly that  met  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  My  wife  accom- 
panied me  on  her  last  visit  to  her  parents  near 
Syracuse.  The  Assembly  met  on  the  day  the  U. 
S.  troops  marched  over  the  long  bridge  into 
Virginia.  That  night  Col.  Ellsworth  was  assassi- 
nated. When  the  Assembly  met  the  next  morning 
solemnity  pervaded  the  entire  body.  Our  country 
was  the  subject  of  the  morning  prayer  meeting. 
After  this  came  a  committee  on  the  state  of  the 
country,  with  Albert  Barnes  as  chairman.  The 
report  of  the  committee  was  able,  with  the  true 
ring  in  it. 

This  was  my  second  attendance  on  our  General 
Assembly.  It  was  pleasant  to  meet  so  many  whom 
I  had  known  and  loved.  When  we  parted,  it  was 
to  meet  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  redeemed. 
Most  of  that  assembly  have  joined  the  great  assem- 
bly whose  names  are  written  in  heaven.  We  re- 
mained a  few  days  after  the  close  of  our  assembly. 
It  was  Mrs.  Sherwood's  last  earthly  visit  with  her 


96  Fif^y  y^<^f'^  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

father  and  mother.     They  have  all  years  ago  met 
to  part  no  more.     We    stopped   a  few   days  with 
my  parents  at  the  old  homestead  in  Shelby,  N.  Y. 
My  father  was  then   seventy-nine.      It  was   my 
last  visit  with  him.      He  died  the    next    March    on 
his  eightieth  birthday.      I  returned  to  Buchanan  on 
the  last  of  June  and  remained    with    them    to   the 
close  of  my  second  year  when   ended   my   engage- 
ment   at    Buchanan.      The   war   became   the   all- 
engrossing  subject.     Little  was  done  in  churches. 
I   was  without   any   ministerial    charge    for    some 
months.      In  October  I  was  invited  to    the    charge 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  Cassopolis,  Mich.,  the 
county  seat  of  Cass  county.      I  rented  my  home  in 
Buchanan  and  removed  to  the  parsonage  of   Cass- 
opolis.     Here  I  found    a    loyal   people   and   warm 
hearted  church,  who  gave  us  a  Christian  welcome. 
The  leading  elder  and  his  wife  I  had  known  since 
1828.      We  found  this  church  a  pleasant  and  invit- 
ing field  for  three    years.      During   this    time    the 
Presbyterian     church    of    Cassopolis    attained     a 
higher  position    than    it    ever    held    before.      God 
crowned  our  efforts  with  His  blessing.      I  closed  my 
labors  at   this   place   October,  1865,    but   left    my 
family  here   until   I   could   go   to   North   Western 
Missouri  and  determine  whether  I  would  enter  that 
field.     In  order  to  consolidate  all  the    work    I    did 
in  Michigan,  I  here  record  a  year's   work   done   in 


Work  in  Michigan 


ii' 


97 


1876.  During  the  month  of  March,  1876,  after  an 
absence  of  ten  and  a  half  years  in  Missouri,  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  Mr.  D.  O.  Roberts  of  Kalama- 
zoo, Michigan,  asking  me  to  visit  Kalamazoo  and 
spend  one  year  in  North  Kalamazoo  in  mission 
work.  Being  under  the  necessity  of  passing 
through  there  about  the  last  of  March,  I  replied  to 
him,  that  I  would  stop  and  learn  what  they  wanted 
done.  On  reaching  Kalamazoo,  on  my  journey 
east,  I  called  to  see  Mr.  Roberts  and  learn  what  he 
wanted  and  what  material  there  was.  I  accepted 
their  proposition,  went  east,  attended  to  the  busi- 
ness to  be  done,  returned  and  entered  upon  my 
work  in  Kalamazoo  the  second  Sabbath  of  April, 
1876,  with  a  sermon  to  the  children  of  the  mission 
Sabbath  School  at  their  chapel,  built  by  the  Sabbath 
school  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  At  night 
I  preached  to  those  who  had  invited  me  to  come 
there,  and  gather  the  elements  out  of  which  a 
Presbyterian  church  might  be  organized  in  North 
Kalamazoo.  I  there  gave  notice  that  I  would  be 
happy  to  meet  all  that  would  take  hold  of  this  en- 
terprise. A  few  choice  spirits  of  that  locality  came 
to  the  meeting.  We  adopted  the  following  pro- 
gramme: Monday  evening,  prayer  meeting  for  the 
willing  workers;  Wednesday  evening,  general  prayer 
meeting;  Sabbath  morning,  preaching  at  10:30 
A.  M.,     Sabbath  School  at  2  P.  M.   and  preaching 


g8  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

at  7:30  P.  M.  I  was  left  to  adopt  such  plans  as 
my  experience  would  suggest  in  ascertaining  about 
the  material  to  be  employed  in  the  organization. 

North  Kalamazoo  was  that  portion  of  Kalama- 
zoo cut  off  by  the  Central  Michigan  R.  R.,  running 
through  the  city.  There  were  at  least  3000  inhab- 
itants in  this  district.  The  only  means  of  grace 
there  was  the  Wood's  Mission  Sabbath  School. 
Consequently  the  saloons,  houses  of  ill  fame,  and 
wickedness  generally,  had  congregated  there.  The 
police  justice's  docket  showed  the  fruits  of  being 
thus  left. 

My  first  work  was  a  moral  survey  of  this  field  by 
house  to  house  visitation,  taking  the  name  of  the 
family,  their  religious  preference,  or  church  rela- 
tions, whether  Protestant,  or  Catholic,  Jew  or 
Gentile,  white  or  black.  I  then  knew  what  mate- 
rial that  part  of  the  town  furnished.  I  found  whole 
streets  on  which  there  was  not  a  Christian  family. 
Yet  I  was  welcomed  in  every  house  I  entered.  ,  I 
told  my  errand.  I  invited  them  to  come  to  church 
Sabbath  morning,  and  their  children  to  Sabbath 
school.  There  were  Catholic  families  that  said 
they  only  wished  their  priests  would  come  and  talk 
with  them  as  I  did.  Having  learned  the  field,  the 
next  thing  was  to  cultivate  if  for  Christ.  We  had 
the  promise  in  Ps.  126:  6:  "He  that  goeth  forth 
and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless 


Work  in  Michigan  gg 


come  again,  with  rejoicing;   bringing    his    sheaves 
with  him."     We  ventured  out  on   this   promise   of 
God.     Commenced   holding  cottage   meetings   on 
Tuesday  nights,  and  Friday  nights.      Our  Monday 
night  prayer  meetings  assured  us  that    there    was 
a  working  band  in  training  for  the  cottage  meetings. 
Our  plan  was  a  simple  one.      Finding  a  family  that 
would  welcome  such  a  meeting  at  their    home,  we 
announced  the  place  and  time  of   meeting   a    week 
beforehand.       The    afternoon  before    the  meeting 
we  visited  through  the   neighborhood    from    house 
to  house,  and  invited  all  out  to  the  meeting.     The 
praying  band  were  on  time.      We  commenced    the 
meeting  with  some  familiar  song  followed  by  two 
or  more  prayers,  then  read  an  appropriate  passage 
of  scripture  followed  the  reading  with  remarks   on 
some  truth  in  the  lesson  read.     The  meeting  was 
then  thrown   open   for  song,  remarks,  or  prayers. 
The  praying  band  was  ready  to  fill  up  the  time  for 
fifteen  or  twenty    minutes.     Then    I    would  make 
some  practical  remarks,  and  ask  if  there  were  any 
present  who  desired  to  be  remembered  in  the  clos- 
ing prayer.     Almost  every  meeting  developed  one 
or  more,  who  would  arise,  asking  prayer  for  them- 
selves.     Before   closing,  the   question   was   put   if 
there  were  any  present,  who  would  like    a    similar 
meeting  at  their  homes.      Generally    someone  was 
ready  with  an  invitation.     The    appointment    wag 


loo  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir?ntsh  Line 

made  for  next  Tuesday  night.  On  Wednesday 
was  our  general  prayermeeting.  All  were  invited 
to  attend  and  the  children  were  invited  to  the 
Sunday  School.  The  adults  were  invited  to  the 
Sabbath  service.  On  Friday  night  we  went  to 
another  part  of  our  field  with  a  like  meeting.  In 
this  way  we  were  sowing  gospel  seed  and  watering 
it  with  prayer  and  song.  It  was  not  long  before 
sheaves  began  to  come  in  at  the  Wednesday  night 
meeting  in  the  testimony  of  new  born  souls,  telling 
to  sinners  all  around  what  a  precious  Savior  they 
had  found.  It  was  marvelous  what  such  a  course 
of  Christian  effort  accomplished  in  the  twelve 
months  that  I  remained  in  North  Kalamazoo.  We 
not  only  gathered  a  full  chapel  on  the  Sabbath  but 
it  was  often  full  on  Wednesday  night  to  hear  the 
testimonies  of  the  young  converts.  For  nearly 
six  months  there  was  not  a  Wednesday  night  passed 
but  brought  some  new  testimony  of  what  Christ 
had  done  for  some  one  that  week.  There  were  a 
large  number,  about  eighty,  who  professed  hope  in 
Christ  and  signed  the  pledge  to  become  members 
of  the  church  when  the  organization  should  take 
place.  Saloons  were  dried  up,  houses  of  prostitu- 
tion became  houses  of  prayer.  There  was  one 
notorious  place  where  were  a  saloon  and  a  dance 
house,  with  the  upper  story  devoted  to  rooms  ot 
prostitution,  all  run  by  one  man.     Being   in   that 


Work  in  Michigan  loi 


neighborhood  one  day,  I  heard  that  the  keeper  had 
been  stricken  down  with  palsy.  I  went  to  see 
him.  I  found  him  on  a  bed  in  the  dance  hall,  re- 
peating this  short  prayer,  "God  have  mercy  on  my 
poor  soul.''  I  knelt  beside  his  bed,  and  prayed  for 
him.  While  at  prayer  a  female  entered  the  room. 
As  I  arose  from  prayer,  I  saw  her  weeping.  As  I 
approached  her,  she  said:  "Mr.  Sherwood,  I  know 
that  I  ought  to  be  a  better  woman  than  I  am.  I 
had  a  praying  mother.  When  I  came  into  this 
room  and  heard  the  voice  of  prayer  it  brought  back 
those  early  impression  of  my  life."  The  day  before 
the  stricken  man  died,  he  said  to  his  brother: 
"Take  down  that  saloon  sign,  I  do  not  want  to  die 
in  this  house  with  that  sign  on  it."  In  less  than 
two  weeks  from  that  time  they  carried  the  poor 
man  out  of  the  dance  hall,  and  buried  him.  We 
held  a  prayer  meeting  there,  and  in  less  than  three 
weeks  they  opened  a  Sabbath  School  in  that  hall! 
The  union  evangelist  meetings  conducted  by 
Major  Whittle  and  P.  P.  Bliss  in  the  fall  of  1876 
were  a  great  help  in  our  work.  It  was  near  the 
close  of  Mr.  Bliss'  labors.  He  had  reached  the 
Beulahland;  there  was  glory  in  his  soul.  He  left 
to  all  precious  evidence  he  was  fitted  for  the  em- 
ployment and  enjoyments  of  that  heavenly  resi- 
dence to  which  he  was  so  soon  to  be  transported. 
Their  labors  were  crowned  with  precious  and  last- 
ing results. 


I02  F'iffy  y^ccrs  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

They  left  Kalamazoo  on  the  last  day  of  Novem- 
oer,  1876.  On  the  last  day  of  December  of  the 
same  year,  P.  P.  Bliss  and  his  lovely  wife  perished 
in  that  awful  wreck  at  Ashtabula,  Ohio.  Not  a 
memorial  was  left  of  either  of  them  but  what  they 
had  done  while  living.  Illustrating  the  sentiment  of 
Bliss'  own  hymn,  "Only  remembered  by  what  I 
have  done." 

We  continued  our  systematic  work,  holding  our 
cottage  meetings  in  different  parts  of  North  Kala- 
mazoo. The  congregation  seemed  gathered  and 
to  my  mind  the  time  had  come  for  the  organization 
of  the  church.  Our  helpers  were  from  the  Baptist, 
Methodist,  Congregational  and  Presbyterian 
churches.  While  fully  in  sympathy  with  the  work 
accomplished,  they  had  not  yet  assimilated  their 
belief  so  that  they  could  covenant  together  in 
church  fellowship. 

While  waiting,  they  lost  several  who  would  have 
gone  into  the  organization  if  it  had  taken  place  be- 
fore I  left.  It  was  a  glorious  year's  work,  and  the 
results  were  permanent,  as  I  can  testify  from  the 
two  Sabbaths  I  spent  with  them  in  September  of 
1883,  which  enabled  me  to  see  how  the  work  of 
1876  appeared  six  years  after. 

I  will  let  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  give  his  opinion:  "Mr.  Sherwood, 
you   did   in   that  year's  work  what  would  take   ten 


Work  i?i  Michigan  103 


years  in  the  usual  routine  of  pastoral  work  to  have 
accomplished." 

I  closed  my  year's  work  on  the  second  Sabbath 
of  April,  1877.  The  fruits  were  a  full  chapel  con- 
gregation gathered  with  eighty-two  person's  names, 
to  a  solemn  covenant  henceforth  to  live  Christian 
lives. 

We  now  resume  our  narrative  of  removal  from 
Michigan  to  Missouri  in  the  spring  of  1866, 

At  the  close  of  my  engagement  at  Cassopolis, 
I  received  a  letter  from  my  brother,  Dr.  Willis  M. 
Sherwood,  who  had  removed  to  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, calling  my  attention  to  North  Western 
Missouri  as  a  field  of  ministerial  labor,  asking  me 
to  visit  him  and  look  over  that  destitute  region. 

I  made  provision  for  my  family  to  remain  in  the 
parsonage  at  Cassopolis  and  left  on  the  first  week 
in  November,  1865,  for  St,  Joseph.  I  had  a  quick 
and  safe  passage  and  spent  my  first  Sabbath  at 
Savannah,  Andrew  county.  This  town  had  been 
a  Presbyterian  center,  since  the  settlement  of  the 
Rev.  Elijah  Carson  there  in  1840,  on  the  opening 
of  the  Platte  Purchase.  He  had  done  good  pioneer 
work  in  organizing  the  first  Presbyterian  church  in 
the  bounds  of  said  purchase  about  ten  miles  north- 
west of  Savannah,  and  about  three  miles  this  side 
of  Fillmore.  He  also  organized  the  New  School 
church  at    Savannah,  and    built    them    a    meeting 


I04  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Li?ie 

house.     He  organized  the  Presbyterian   church   at 
Weston,  Platte  county.      Returning  from    Savan- 
nah I  met   Rev.    B.  B.   Parsons,    D.D.,    who   was 
pastor  of  the  newly  organized  Westminister  church 
of  St.  Joseph,  who  informed   me   that    a    minister 
was  wanted  at  Weston,  the  old  field    of   the    Rev. 
Frederick  Starr,  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.      I   visited 
Weston   and   found   there   the   Rev.     George   W. 
Goodale  at  the  head  of  an  academy.     He  was  also 
supplying  the  Presbyterian  church  that   had  been 
resuscitated    by   Dr.    Norton   of    Alton,    111.,    and 
himself,  and  put  into    working  order.      I    was    in- 
vited to  remain  and  spend   the   following   Sabbath 
with  them.     I  did  so,  and  preached  twice.     I  was 
asked  to  take  charge  of  the  church.     They  were  in 
possession  of  a  brick  church  house  and  a  nice  brick 
cottage  as  a  prsonage.      I  took  board  with  Brother 
Goodale,  and  entered  upon  a  supply  of  the   pulpit 
and  looking  after  the  scattered  sheep  of  that    once 
interesting   fold.     I  worked   on   until  the    first    of 
May,  when  I  returned  to  Michigan  for    my  family. 
My  eldest  daughter  had  decided  to  remain  in  Mich- 
igan as  the  wife  of  Dr.  Thomas  W.  Anderson,  who 
had  prepared  a  home  for  her   at   Marshall,    Mich. 
My    son,    Charles,    came   on  from  Albion,    N.  Y. , 
where  he  had  been  for  two  years  fitting  himself  for 
a  druggist,  that  we  might  once  more    as    a    family 
be  together.     While  it  gave  us  great   pleasure    to 


Work  i'n  Michigan  105 


meet  once  more,  yet  the  fact  that  we  were  soon  to 
separate  and  all  ^o  their  several  ways,  cast  over 
us  a  cloud  of  gloom.  At  last,  the  arrangement 
being  (Completed,  a  few  friends  came  in  to  witness 
the  marriage  of  our  daughter  to  Dr.  Thomas  W. 
Anderson.  After  the  ceremony  the  good-byes  were 
said,  and  they  immediately  left  for  Marshall,  Mich. 
My  son  left  with  them  for  Albion,  N.  Y.  My  wife 
and  daughter  Sarah,  left  with  me  for  Weston,  Mis- 
souri, where  the  parsonage  had  been  put  in  order 
and  was  waiting  for  us.  On  arrival  at  St.  Joseph, 
Mo.,  we  spent  a  few  days  with  Brother  "Willis  and 
family  and  then  entered  upon  the  work  opened  to 
us  in  Missouri. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

WORK  IN  MISSOURI. 

I  am  now  fifty-six  years  old.  I  had  been  thirty 
years  an  ordained  minister  and  twenty-nine  years 
in  active  work.  I  was  thus  bordering  upon  that 
age  when  many  ministers  are  looking  for  a  field 
where  they  may  be  quiet.  I  had  entered  one  where 
the  desolation  of  two  wars  were  felt  and  seen.  The 
border  war  began  the  desolation  of  the  Weston 
church,  and  the  war  of  the  rebellion  nearly  finished 
it.  We  found  the  parsonage  a  nice  home,  and 
what  was  left  of  the  church  kind  and  considerate; 
we  enjoyed  the  time  we  spent  there.  I  gave  a  good 
deal  of  my  energies  to  the  Sabbath  School  and  at 
our  Christmas  festival,  there  was  a  good  impression 
made  upon  the  citizens  of  Weston.  Our  congre- 
gations increased  and  there  was  spiritual  interest 
developed  in  the  congregations.  Had  we  been  left 
to  prosecute  the  work  of  restoring  the  desolation  of 
the  Weston  church,  we  should  have  had  growth 
in  Sabbath  School  and  the  church.  We  had  not 
been  long  there  before  orders  came  from  head- 
quarters to  go  to  Breckenridge,  Caldwell    county, 

106 


Work  in  Alissouri  107 


and  gather  the  professed  members  of  a  Presbyte- 
rian church,  and  organize  them,  and  put  them  in 
working  order  by  ordaining  elders  and  choosing 
deacons.  I  asked  the  church  of  Weston  what  I 
should  do.  They  said,  go.  1  went  and  did  the 
work  so  satisfactorily  that  it  laid  the  foundation 
for  my  appointment  ere  long  as  Presbyterial  mis- 
sionary of  the  Lexington  Presbytery.  I  continued 
at  Weston,  till  the  next  year.  At  the  spring  meet- 
ing of  Lexington  Presbytery  I  was  chosen  commis- 
sioner to  the  General  Assembly  to  meet  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  on  the  third  Thursday  of  May 
that  year.  My  brother  Willis  was  lay  commis- 
sioner. 

We  left  in  season  to  reach  Rochester  for  the 
opening  services.  This  was  my  third  attendance 
on  the  assembly.  In  the  make  up  of  the  commit- 
tees, I  was  given  a  place  on  the  judicial  committee 
which  brought  me  in  contact  with  some  of  the  best 
minds  in  the  assembly.  This  meeting  was  a  good 
school  as  a  preparation  for  the  work  that  was 
opening  out  to  me.  On  my  return  from  the  assem- 
bly I  found  the  way  was  opening  for  me  to  enter 
upon  the  work  of  a  Presbyterial  missionary  within 
the  bounds  of  the  old  Lexington  Presbytery.  I 
received  my  appointment  from  New  York  city,  and 
entered  upon  work.  Accordingly,  I  removed  my 
family  to  St.  Joseph  where  my  son  had  bought  and 


io8  ^ifly   Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

opened  a  drug  store.      Thus  we  were  brought  once 
more  together.      My  son  joined  the  family,  after  a 
separation  of  four   years.      In    entering    upon  the 
work  of  a  Presbyterial  missionary,  I  found   a    field 
that    covered    twenty-five  counties,  including    the 
cities  of  St.  Joseph  and  Kansas  City.     There    was 
at  that  time  the  New  School   church  of  Savannah, 
with    Rev.  T.  Reevis    as    a    supply;   Rev.    B.    B. 
Parsons,  D.  D, ,  pastor  of  Westminister  Church  St. 
Joseph;   the  church  of  Weston  supplied   by    Rev. 
George  W.  Goodale;   the  second  church  of  Kansas 
city,  Rev.  Timothy  Hill  pastor;   the  church  which 
I  had  organized  at  Breckenridge,    supplied   by  the 
Rev.  Joel  Kennedy;  and  the  church  of  Mt.  Zion  at 
Gentryville  vacant.     There    were  Rev.    Elijah   A. 
Carson  and  the  Rev.  Mr,  Morgan  without  charge. 
The  Rev.  Seth  G.  Clark  about  this  time  had  organ- 
ized a  small  church  at  Holden,  and  was  supplying 
it.     This  was  all  the  working  force  of  the  Lexing- 
ton Presbytery   in    twenty-six    counties   in   North 
Western    Missouri.      There  were   three  kinds    of 
work  expected  of  the  Presbyterial  Missionary: 

ist.  Caring  for  the  destitute  churches;  2nd. 
Gathering  up  the  churches  scattered  by  the  war; 
3d.  Organizing  new  churches  where  there  was 
material  for  them,  and  assisting  in  procuring  funds 
to  build  churches.  I  had  already  helped  the  people 
of  Breckenridge  to  funds  that  enabled  them  to  erect 
a  small  church. 


Work  i?i  Missouri  109 


In  December,  1867,  Maryville,  the  county  seat 
of  Nodaway  county,  opened  an  inviting  field  for 
the  organization  of  a  Presbyterian  church.  I  visited 
there  early  in  December.  The  Methodist  church 
was  tendered  us  for  holding  some  meetings.  I 
accepted  their  offer  and  began  a  series  of  meetings 
in  their  house.  The  word  took  effect.  Backsliders 
returned  to  duty  in  penitence.  I  circulated  a  paper 
for  such  to  sign  as  were  ready  to  enter  into  the 
organization  of  a  Presbyterian  church.  Sixteen 
persons  on  the  13th  of  December,  1867,  presented 
themselves  for  the  purpose.  Their  letters  were 
found  in  order.  One  young  lady  came  on  confes- 
sion of  her  faith.  They  entered  into  covenant  with 
God  and  each  other.  They  chose  Daniel  Giger, 
John  Edwards,  Esq.,  and  John  Blair  as  their  elders. 
They  were  ordained  and  installed  to  that  office. 
They  were  then  declared  the  Union  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Maryville,  Missouri.  The  reason  why 
the  word  'Union'  was  prefixed  to  Maryville,  was 
that  there  were  no  less  than  five  different  kinds  of 
Presbyterians  that  entered  into  the  make  up  of  the 
church.  In  November  1867,  I  visited  Easton, 
twelve  miles  east  of  St.  Joseph,  on  the  Hannibal 
and  St.  Joseph  R.  R.  On  a  careful  canvass  I 
found  much  that  was  hopeful.  On  a  second  visit  I 
drew  up  the  following  paper:  "We,  the  under- 
signed,   believing   the  doctrine  and   receiving  the 


no  Fifty  Years  ofi  the  Skirmish  Line 

polity  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  do  by  these 
presents  associate  ourselves  together  for  the  pur- 
pose of  organizing  a  church  and  congregation  in 
Easton,  Mo."  Twenty-two  signed  this  paper.  I 
then  rented  a  hall  for  religious  meeting,  gave  notice 
of  preaching  next  Sabbath,  and  preached  a  sermon 
in  the  hall  at  the  time  appointed.  After  sermon 
twenty-two  persons  came  forward  for  membership. 
Those  having  letters  presented  them.  The  others 
were  examined  and  found  worthy.  They  covenant- 
ed with  Almighty  God  and  each  other.  They  chose 
officers  who  were  ordained  and  installed.  The  first 
Sabbath  in  January  was  fixed  upon  for  the  first 
communion  season  at  Easton.  I  went  down  on 
Saturday  to  hold^our  preparatory  meeting.  Four 
new  members  came  forward  to  unite  with  the 
church  on  the  morrow.  It  was  the  earnest  of 
God's  blessing  on  the  Sabbath.  The  presence  of 
the  Great  Head  of  the  church  was  manifest  at  the 
first  communion  season.  So  much  so,  that  we 
thought  best  to  protract  the  servicesfor  nearly  four 
weeks.  There  were  some  very  marked  displays  of 
God's  saving  power.  For  example:  On  closing 
my  sermon  one  night,  a  gentleman  arose  and  asked 
the  privilege  of  speaking.  I  said,  "You  can;  if 
you  will  speak  for  Christ.  Speak  on."  Said  he, 
"When  I  first  came  to  this  meeting,  I  had  on  my 
person  a  pistol  I  had  worn  for  two  years.     I  never 


Work  in  Missouri  iii 


left  home  without  seeing  that  it  was  in  order,  well 
capped  and  ready  for  any  emergency.  Under  a 
sermon  which  you  preached,  I  saw  myself  as  I 
never  had  before.  I  realized  I  had  a  heart  that 
was  desperately  wicked  and  I  had  enough  to  attend 
to  to  get  my  heart  right.  The  first  question  that 
presented  itself  was:  Will  you  leave  your  pistol  at 
home?  Here  was  a  point  that  tried  me;  for  I  had 
determined  to  shoot  a  certain  man  on  the  first 
provocation.  It  took  me  a  whole  day  to  bring  my 
heart  to  say  yes.  I  said  it.  Then  another  ques- 
tion arose:  Will  you  forgive  the  man  you  deter- 
mined to  kill?  It  took  me  two  days  to  settle  that 
question.  I  forgave  him,  and  God  forgave  me." 
Turning  to  the  father  of  the  man  he  wanted  to 
kill,  he  went  on:  "And  I  forgive  you,"  and 
reached  his  hand  towards  the  old  father.  The  old 
gentleman  extended  his  hand.  They  clasped  and 
shook  hands,  and  drew  together,  until  they  could 
lay  heads  on  each  others  shoulders;  there  they 
wept  like  children.  The  hall  was  packed.  Others 
looked  on  until  they  caught  the  weeping  spirit. 
From  that  night  the  pistols  were  out  of  that  con- 
gregation. Many  a  deadly  feud  from  that  night 
was  settled  in  Easton.  There  was  another  no  less 
marked  case.  A  leading  young  lady  of  Easton  at 
the  close  of  my  sermpn  arose  to  go  forward  to  the 
seat  that  penitents  were  to    occupy.      As    she    at- 


112  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

tempted  to  step,  she  fell  her  whole  length  forward. 
She  was  caught  by  a  lady  friend  and  supported  in 
a  reclining  posture.  Prayer  was  offered  for  her 
and  the  large  number  who  came  forward.  When 
she  fell  it  seemed  as  though  half  of  the  congregation 
were  on  their  feet  in  a  moment.  I  waved  my  hand 
for  them  to  be  seated.  When  I  quieted  them,  I 
used  the  event  as  best  I  could. 

The  young  lady  could  not  rise  to  her  feet  for 
some  time  after  the  services  closed.  She  was 
removed  to  a  friend's  home,  near  by.  She  was 
present  the  next  night.  When  the  invitation  was 
given  for  those  who  wished  to  be  subjects  of  prayer 
she  started  to  go  forward,  and  fell  again.  After 
the  prayer,  she  arose  to  her  feet  and  said  God  had 
heard  prayer  in  her  behalf.  Her  load  of  guilt  was 
gone,  her  strength  had  come  back,  joy  filled  her 
heart.  Her  testimony  had  a  marked  effect  upon 
those  who  were  there  both  nights.  She  went  home 
that  night  rejoicing  that  she  had  been  born  again. 
During  the  four  weeks  of  our  meeting,  seventy-six 
came  forward  to  the  church  making  with  those 
who  united  on  the  first  Sabbath  eighty  new  mem- 
bers, giving  us  a  church  of  103  members;  the 
society  was  incorporated  according  to  the  laws  of 
the  state,  and  trustees  chosen.  A  lot  for  a  meeting 
house  was  secured.  A  subscription  was  started 
headed  by  one  man  with  $300.00,  and  in  less  than 


Work  in  Missouri  u^ 


one    year,  we   had  a    church   house,    60x40   feet, 
finished  and    dedicated.     At    the   spring    meeting 
we  reported  the  largest  church  in  Lexington  Pres- 
bytery.     It  was  made  up  of  a  strange  medley  from 
different  sections  of  our  own  country,  New  Yorkers, 
Pennsylvanians,  Ohioans,  Kentuckians,  and  native 
Missourians,  trained    in    different  churches.      One 
quarter  of  them  were  from  the   Reformed   Presby- 
terian Church;   quite   a   number   were    Lutherans, 
only  a  fraction  of  them   were   trained    up    in    the 
Presbyterian  faith.      Some  were  from  the  Cumber- 
lands.      If   I   could   have   given   myself    wholly   to 
them    I   believe   I   could    have   brought   about   an 
assimilation  that  would  have  made  them   a  strong 
church.     We  had  not  ministers  to  meet  the  exigen- 
cies of  the  occasion.      I  did  the    best    I    could    for 
them.      What  they  needed  was  a  resident  pastor. 
We  introduced  a  minister  there;   but  he  cared  more 
for  the  fleece  than  he  did    for   the   fiock.      He   did 
not  hold  those  we  had  committed  to  him.      Under 
him  they  began  to  scatter;  some  removed  to  other 
places,    some  drew  off  to  other    churches,    organ- 
ized near  them.      Mr.  Hugh   Carmichel  one  of  the 
converts  who  was  made  elder,  has  remained  at  his 
post,    has  kept  a  fast  hold  of  the  Sabbath  School, 
is  an    honor  to  the  church    and  a  blessing  to  those 
around  him. 

In  June,     1869,    I    organized    a    church    of    six 


114  ^ifiy  y^ci^s  o?i  the  Skirmish  Li?ie 

members  at  Osborn,  Dekalb  county,  on  the  R. 
R.  line.  The  Rev,  C.  W.  Higgins  had  made  a 
home  for  his  growing  family  at  this  point,  had 
gathered  an  efficient  Sabbath  School,  had  built  a 
small  meeting  house,  and  had  drawn  around  him 
those  that  feared  God  and  worked  righteousness. 
The  church  grew,  and  out  of  it  came  three  efficient 
Presbyterian  ministers.  The  youth  trained  in  this 
Sabbath  School  are  doing  a  good  work  for  Christ 
wherever  God  in  His  Providence  has  cast  their  lot. 
This  church  like  others,  who  were  made  up  from 
emigrant  population,  has  suffered  by  removals  and 
death. 

During  the  year  1869,  Rev.  Joel  Kennedy,  pastor 
of  Breckenridge  church,  in  his  labors  in  the  region 
beyond  his  own  field  found  in  New  York  Settlement 
eight  miles  west  of  Breckenridge  a  people  who  de- 
sired gospel  privileges.  He  visited  them,  held 
meetings  with  them  from  time  to  time.  They 
asked  that  a  church  might  be  organized  there.  I 
visited  them  late  in  this  autumn,  holding  meetings 
evenings,  and  visiting  from  house  to  house  by 
day.  An  interest  was  awakened,  and  a  goodly 
number,  more  women  than  men,  gave  their  names 
as  candidates  for  church  membership.  They  were 
the  best  citizens  of  the  Settlement,  Some  of  the 
men  whose  wives  had  given  their  names  pledged 
to  support  the  enterprise  if  we  would  organize.     I 


Work  in  Missouri  115 


did  organize  the  Presbyterian  church  of  New  York 
Settlement.  They  chose  their  elder  who  was 
ordained  and  set  over  them.  A  deacon  was  set 
apart  to  his  duties.  They  passed  to  the  care  of 
Brother  Kennedy.  They  have  grown,  built  a  meet- 
ing house  and  are  exerting  a  happy  Christian  influ- 
ence on  that  prosperous  Settlement.  Would  that 
we  had  such  a  church  in  scores  of  towns  in  the 
bounds  of  Platte  Presbytery! 

I  was  soon  called  to  Wheeling  on  the  same  R. 
R.,  at  the  eastern  limit  of  Platte  Presbytery,  to 
organize  a  Presbyterian  church.  I  went  down  in 
November  and  complied  with  their  wishes,  ordaining 
and  in'^talling  an  elder  and  a  deacon  over  them. 
They  were  grouped  with  Chillicothe.  They  have 
never  been  cared  for  as  they  ought  to  have  been. 

Three  miles  from  Market  Square  in  St.  Joseph, 
on  the  Upper  Amazonia  road  is  a  good  country 
school  house  where  my  brother  Willis  had  conduc- 
ted a  Sabbath  School  composed  of  children  of  the 
families  within  a  circumference  of  two  miles  The 
people  within  this  radius  were  mostly  non-church- 
goers, and  took  but  little  interest  in  religious 
matters.  The  Sabbath  School  was  a  mission 
school  of  the  Westminister  church  of  St.  Joseph. 
Mr.  Logan  Maxwell  and  others  had  invited  me  to 
hold  a  series  of  meetings  at  that  school  house. 
Friday,     November    5th,    was     the   time     agreed 


Ii6  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir7nish  Line 

upon  to  commence  our  meetings.  I  went  to  the 
school  house  m  season  to  give  notice  in  the  school 
of  our  meetmgs.  A  good  congregation  gathered  at 
the  first  meeting.  There  were  evident  tokens  at 
this  meeting  that  the  Holy  Spirit  had  gone  before, 
preparing  the  way  for  a  precious  ingathering  of 
souls  into  the  fold  of  the  Great  Shepherd.  There 
being  no  school  on  Saturday  we  held  meetings  Sat- 
urday afternoon  and  night,  with  two  services  on 
the  Sabbath.  At  the  Sabbath  morning  meeting  I 
asked  for  the  first  expression  of  feeling.  A  number 
arose.  The  meeting  at  night  indicated  increased 
interest.  Monday  was  devoted  to  calling  on  those 
who  had  publicly  expressed  interest.  My  sermon 
Monday  night  was  on  repentance.  All  through  the 
house  there  was  weeping.  From  this  time  the  re- 
vival interest  went  steadily  forward.  New  cases 
of  interest  developed  at  every  meeting.  The  days 
except  Saturday  and  Sabbath  were  devoted  to 
calling  on  all  classes.  Our  preaching  service  at 
night  was  preceded  by  a  thirty  minute  prayer 
meeting  for  God's  special  blessing  on  that  night's 
service.  Thus  we  worked  on  for  three  weeks. 
Thirty-eight  gave  their  names  as  candidates  for 
membership  in  a  new  church  to  be  organized  at 
the  school  house.  Five  persons  presented  letters 
of  dismission,  making  forty-three.  Thirty-one  of 
the  converts  received  baptism.     The  converts  then 


Work  in  Missouri  117 


gave  their  assent  to  the  fundamental  doctrines  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  Then  the  forty-three 
entered  into  covenant  with  God  and  each  other, 
this  act  constituting  them  a  church  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  They  took  the  name  of  Oak  Grove 
church  in  connection  with  Platte  Presbytery,  the 
legal  successor  of  the  Lexington  and  Upper  Mis- 
souri Presbyteries  by  virtue  of  the  union  of  the 
Old  and  New  School  General  Assemblies  at  Pitts- 
burgh. They  chose  Logan  Maxwell  and  Joshua 
Haxen  elders.  These  brethren  having  answered 
the  constitutional  questions  were  set  apart  to  the 
eldership  by  laying  on  of  hands  and  prayer.  I  was 
requested  to  supply  them  every  alternate  Sabbath. 
The  question  of  building  a  meeting  house  was 
settled  by  the  donation  of  a  desirable  lot  from 
Logan  Maxwell  and  a  contribution  from  the  Brick 
church  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. ,  which  enabled  them 
to  build  the  following  season.  On  finishing  up  my 
work  at  Oak  Grove,  I  accepted  an  invitation  from 
the  United  Church  of  Savannah  to  conduct  a 
series  of  meetings  at  their  church.  Rev.  J.  Emery 
Fisher  a  licentiate  being  their  supply.  On  reach- 
ing Savannah,  I  asked  for  a  meeting  of  all  who 
desired  my  services.  They  assembled  as  soon 
as  they  could.  I  asked  them  for  what  intent  had 
they  sent  for  me.  They  replied,  "We  thought 
the  time  had  come  to  do  something  for  our   fami- 


ii8  ^^fly  y veil's  on  the  Skirmish  Li?te 

lies  and  church."  I  asked  them  how  many  there 
were  in  their  congregation  who  could  be  reached 
by  an  honest  effort  for  their  salvation.  They 
named  over  some  twenty-five.  I  took  down  their 
names,  and  requested  the  list  copied,  and  that  they 
be  made  subjects  of  special  prayer.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  in  the  brick  church.  Brother 
Carson  invited  me  to  make  his  house  my  home 
while  in  Savannah.  We  arranged  for  two  services, 
one  at  2  P.  M.,  the  other  at  7:30  P.  M.  My  first 
sermon  was  written.  The  forty  that  I  preached 
after  that  I  did  not  take  even  a  scrap  of  paper  into 
the  pulpit.  They  were  carefully  prepared  extem- 
pore sermons.  My  first  call  was  on  the  third  night 
after  a  sermon  from  Jer.  17:9,  "The  heart  is 
deceitful  above  all  things  and  desperately  wicked." 
Mr.  John  Tynor,  a  leading  merchant  led  and  four- 
teen followed  him  to  front  seats.  The  waters  of 
life  were  unsealed,  and  most  of  the  fifteen  drank  that 
night;  and  were  made  partakers  of  eternal  life, 
and  entered  into  Christian  service.  Our  afternoon 
meetings  were  precious  seasons.  There  were 
marked  cases  of  answer  to  prayer.  A  wife  was 
brought  to  Christ  by  the  agonizing  prayer  of  her 
husband,  converted  in  the  early  part  of  the  meet- 
ing. There  was  a  little  child  came  forward  alone 
only  nine  years  old.  I  asked  her  why  she  came 
forward.     She    replied  with   clear  tone   of  voice: 


Work  in  Alissouri  119 


"Mr.  Sherwood,  ever  since  you  preached  that  we 
must  have  new  hearts  or  we  could  not  see  the 
Kingdom  of  God,  I  have  wanted  a  new  heart.  I 
have  come  to  ask  you  to  pray  that  God  would  give 
me  a  new  heart."  The  child's  answer  produced  a 
sensation  that  was  felt  in  that  full  house.  God 
gave  her  a  new  heart.  I  met  her  eight  years  after. 
She  was  then  a  young  lady  of  seventeen,  in  her 
junior  year  in  the  full  seminary  course  of  study. 
Her  pastor  told  me  she  was  the  most  consecrated 
young  person  in  his  church,  a  practical  missionary 
among  the  colored  children  of  Jacksonville,  111. 
The  work  of  grace  widened  and  deepened,  taking 
hold  on  business  men,  professional  men,  lawyers 
and  judges.  We  worked  four  weeks,  carrying  the 
revival  interest  through  and  over  the  holiday 
season  up  to  the  first  Sabbath  of  January,  1870, 
on  which  day  we  received  fifty-seven  to  the  com- 
munion of  the  Union  Church.  These  were  the 
fruits  of  the  thirty  days  and  nights  of  hard  work. 
The  number  embraced  many  heads  of  families, 
judges  of  the  county  courts,  lawyers,  merchants, 
business  men,  the  head  of  the  Union  school,  with 
some  of  the  promising  youth  of  Savannah.  Twelve 
years  after,  I  met  Rev.  J.  Emery  Fisher  on  the 
floor  of  the  General  Assembly.  In  speaking  of 
the  meeting  at  Savannah,  he  said:  "Mr.  Sher- 
wood, I  have  never  seen  such  a  meeting  as  the  one 


I20  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Lijie 


you  conducted  in  Savannah.  Will  you  not  come 
and  conduct  one  in  my  present  field?"  Sometime 
after  this  he  wrote  me  to  come  to  his  help,  but  I 
could  not. 

On  closing  at  Savannah,  I  was  invited  by  Rev. 
Edward  Cooper,  D.D.,  of  Atchison,  Kans,  to  assist 
him  in  a  series  of  meetings  in  his  church  at  Atchi- 
son. This  was  the  gentleman  who  had  written 
up  the  work  my  lectures  to  boatmen  accomplished 
in  the  Syracuse  daily  of  which  he  was  the  editor 
at  that  time.  He  thought  if  I  could  do  such  a 
work  among  boatmen,  I  could  do  something  for 
the  good  people  of  Atchison.  His  church  at  this 
time  was  not  the  leading  church  in  Atchison.  They 
were  worshiping  in  a  square  hall  on  the  second 
floor.  Dr.  Cooper  had  some  able  men  and  excel- 
lent families  in  his  church.  It  did  not  draw  the 
multitude.  The  work  there  was  from  house  to 
house  and  hand  to  hand,  very  different  from  the 
work  I  had  left  at  Savannah.  We  visited  during 
the  day;  I  preached  at  night  in  the  hall.  It  was  a 
profitable  meeting  for  that  church;  many  of  them 
took  their  soundings  and  found  themselves  where 
they  ought  not  to  be,  and  returned  to  duty  recon- 
secrating themselves  to  the  Lord  and  becoming 
mediums  through  which  God  brought  salvation  to 
their  prayerless  husbands  and  their  baptised 
children.      The  waters    of   life   did   not   rise    high 


Work  in  Missouri  121 


enough  to  impart  their  saving  power  to  the  many 
that  were  living  without  God,  and  without  hope. 
It  was  a  blessing  to  the  church  and  the  pastor. 
They  have  passed  out  from  the  shadows  of  the 
other  denominations.  They  have  now  one  of  the 
finest  church  buildings  in  eastern  Kansas.  Their 
number  on  the  roll  of  Presbytery  is  primus.  When 
I  was  called  there  as  a  supply  during  the  sickness 
of  their  pastor,  I  found  them  the  drawing  congre- 
gation of  Atchison. 

While  I  was  assisting  Dr.  Cooper,  I  had  a  call 
from  Dr.  Timothy  Hill,  who  at  that  time  was 
overseer  of  Home  Missions  in  the  state  of  Missouri. 
He  came  to  consult  about  our  church  work  at 
Chillicothe.  Our  missionary  had  disaffected  the 
elders  and  trustees  and  their  families.  The  church 
was  closed,  and  Dr.  Hill  feared  all  was  lost  But 
he  wished  me  to  go  there  and  see  what  I  could  do. 
My  instructions  were  to  go  on  there  as  soon  as 
I  could,  and  save  the  church  if  possible.  The 
church  at  Chillicothe  was  organized  by  the  Upper 
Missouri  Presbytery.  During  the  war  it  had  been 
badly  scattered.  On  the  union  of  the  Presbyteries 
of  Upper  Missouri  and  Lexington,  Platte  Presby- 
tery became  the  legal  successor  and  sent  a  Home 
Missionary  who  was  not  as  wise  as  Solomon, — who 
disgusted  the  elders  and  trustees  of  the  church, 
so  that  they  would  not  go  near  him.     The  meeting 


122  P^fh'  y<^<^^^  ^^^  i^i-^  Skirmish  Line 

house  was  turned  into  a  school  house  and  the  mis- 
sionary was  running  a  school. 

I  found  there  three  parties,  the  elders  and  trus- 
tees, five  families  who  were  in  sympathy  with  the 
south,  and  quite  a  party  that  were  in  sympathy 
with  the  missionary.  His  party  had  in  it  some 
members  of  the  church  in  good  standing  and  more 
that  had  no  standing.  After  looking  over  the 
situation  and  earnest  prayer,  I  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  if  I  could  bring  about  the  return  of  the 
families,  who  had  southern  sympathies,  their  re- 
union with  the  official  members  would  save  the 
church,  and  put  us  in  a  position  where  we  could 
begin  work  again.  My  visit  to  the  five  families 
was  successful.  I  appointed  a  meeting;  the  union 
was  effected.  The  members  who  had  been  acting 
with  the  missionary  came  in  with  us.  The  Holy 
Spirit  was  present  with  power.  We  held  meetings 
at  night,  and  visited  among  the  people  during  the 
day.  Sabbath  night  a  young  married  couple  asked 
for  admission  to  the  church  on  profession  of  their 
faith  and  baptism.  We  received  them  and  bap- 
tised them.  This  was  God's  seal  to  the  work  I 
had  begun  among  that  people.  From  that  night 
the  Holy  Spirit  rested  upon  the  congregation.  The 
saving  grace  of  God  was  manifest  for  three  weeks. 
We  fathered  in  twenty-two  members  so  that  not 
only  was  the  church  saved  but  it  was  firmly  united 


Work  in  Missouri  123 


and  greatly  strengthened,  and  took  rank  as  one  of 
our  better  churches.  I  visited  them  every  alternate 
Sabbath  until  they  settled  a  pastor  who  remained 
w^ith  them  for  years. 

I  soon  met  Dr.  Hill;  he  took  me  by  the  hand  and 
said:  "Brother  Sherwood,  you  did  for  Chillicothe 
what  I  thought  no  man  could  do."  I  told  him  that 
it  was  God  working  through  me  who  did  it. 
During  the  time  I  was  supplying  them,  a  lady  came 
to  me  after  sermon  and  asked  me  to  visit  her  sick 
husband  before  I  left  town.  I  found  him  the  boldest 
infidel  I  had  ever  met.  He  was  a  lawyer.  I  read 
the  Bible  and  prayed  with  him.  As  I  was  about 
leaving,  he  said,  "Call  again.  I  want  to  show  you 
how  an  infidel  can  die."  His  wife  followed  me 
into  the  hall  and  asked  me  to  covenant  with  her  to 
pray  that  God  would  save  him.  "I  can  not  see 
him  die,"  she  said,  "without  making  an  honest 
effort  for  his  salvation."  I  covenanted  with  her. 
I  called  four  times  on  him,  and  saw  the  effect  of 
the  honest  effort  for  his  salvation.  On  my  fifth 
visit,  I  was  met  as  I  stepped  from  the  car,  by  a 
messenger  requesting  me  to  go  directly  to  the  home 
of  the  sick  man.  I  complied.  I  was  shown  to 
his  room.  As  I  entered,  he  said:  "I  sent  for  you 
to  tell  of  the  great  change  I  have  experienced  since 
you  called  on  me.  I  want  publicly  to  confess 
Christ  before  my  children  and  all   others.     I  want 


124  Fifty  Years  o?i  the  Skir77iish  Line 

to  be  baptised  a  Christian,  and  confess  Christ  at 
the  communion  table."  I  said  to  him,  "I  will  have 
the  session  of  the  church  meet  here  this  afternoon, 
who  will  receive  you  to  their  church.  I  will  ad- 
minister to  you  the  sacraments  of  the  church  and 
enroll  your  name  among  God's  people."  This  met 
his  wishes.  The  session  came.  He  told  us  the 
great  change  he  had  passed  through.  He  was 
accepted  and  I  baptised  him.  The  Lord's  table 
was  spread;  he  ate  and  drank  in  honor  of  Christ 
Jesus  his  Savior.  Before  two  weeks  came  around 
he  died  a  Christian  and  not  an  infidel.  Mrs. 
Wait  made  an  honest  effort.  In  her  wrestling 
with  God,  she  prayed  herelf  into  the  Beulah  land; 
she  lived  there.  Her  pastor  told  me  that  it  was 
almost  marvelous  what  power  she  had  in  prayer. 
The  conversion  of  the  infidel  husband  and  the  four 
children  attested  the  truth  of  the  apostle  James, 
"The  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  the  righteous 
availeth  much." 

In  August,  1870,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hill  wrote 
asking  me  to  go  to  Moberly,  Randolph  county. 
Mo.,  a  new  town  on  the  St.  Louis  and  Northern 
Missouri  R.  R.  A  church  was  wanted  there;  if  the 
way  opened,  organize  it.  The  way  opened.  On 
canvassing  three  days,  I  found  twenty-nine  who 
signed  the  following  paper:  "We,  the  undersigned, 
believing  the  doctrine  and  receiving   the   polity   of 


Work  in  Missouri  125 


the  Presbyterian  church,  do  by  these  presents 
associate  ourselves  together  for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  and  sustaining  a  Presbyterian  church 
and  congregation  at  Moberly,  Mo."  Having  en- 
listed that  number  I  thought  we  ought  to  have 
a  drill  before  we  entered  into  an  engagement  with 
those  we  had  to  meet.  I  had  learned  that  Palmyra 
Presbytery  had  lost  two  engagements  for  the  want 
of  a  proper  drill  before  they  attempted  to  go  into 
action.  The  only  place  that  I  could  find  for  drill 
was  in  a  Baptist  Church.  Securing  this,  I  gave 
notice  of  preaching  there  twice  on  the  Sabbath. 
On  Sabbath  morning  I  preached  the  first  sermon 
that  had  been  preached  there  by  a  northern  minis- 
ter since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  which  split  the 
synod  of  the  old  school  churches.  We  were 
greeted  with  a  good  audience.  In  the  evening  we 
fixed  upon  the  first  Sabbath  of  September  as  the 
day  for  organizing  a  Presbyterian  church  at 
Moberly,  a  preparatory  meeting  to  be  held  on  the 
Saturday  before  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  I  returned  to 
St.  Joseph,  and  spent  the  intervening  time  in 
meeting  the  accumulating  work  growing  upon  my 
hands. 

I  returned  to  Moberly  on  the  first  of  September, 
and  found  a  protracted  meeting  in  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church  under  the  lead  of  two  Southern 
Presbyterian  ministers.     That  was  the  way   they 


126  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

had  defeated  two  attempts  of  the  Palmyra  brethren 
to  organize.  They  drew  away  one  of  the 
twenty-nine,  a  young  man.  We  met  according  to 
appointment.  On  Saturday  the  recruits  were  there 
save  the  one.  Their  letters  were  in  order.  We 
attended  to  all  the  preliminaries.  After  a  sermon 
on  Sabbath  morning,  the  action  of  Saturday  was 
rehearsed,  the  names  of  the  candidates  for  mem- 
bership were  called,  each  taking  his  place  in  front 
of  the  pulpit,  and  entering  into  covenant  with  God 
and  each  other.  They  then  chose  Messrs.  T. 
McKay  Wilson  and  Richard  Jackson  elders.  After 
answering  the  constitutional  questions  they  were 
set  apart  to  their  work  and  installed  as  overseers 
of  the  church.  They  were  then  declared  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Moberly,  Mo.  The  Lord's  table 
was  then  spread  and  the  supper  administered.  The 
presence  of  the  Great  Head  was  realized  as  His 
blessing  on  work  done.  The  action  taken  was  re- 
ported to  stated  clerk  of  Palmyra  Presbytery.  I 
then  commended  them  to  God  and  His  watchful 
care.  They  lengthened  their  cords  and  strengthened 
their  stakes.  They  are  the  third  in  membership 
of  Palmyra  Presbytery. 

I  gave  what  remained  of  this  year  to  Oak  Grove, 
Phelps  City  and  Willow  Brook.  The  year  was  one 
of  blessed  results.  It  opened  with  the  ingathering 
of  the  rich  harvest  of  Savannah,   and  included  the 


Work  in  Missouri  127 


saving  of  the    church  of  Chillicothe,   the    work    at 
Moberly  where  there  had  been  two  failures,  the  re- 
suscitation of  Willow  Brook    and   getting   a  sub- 
scription for  church  house. 

1 87 1. — The  second  Sabbath  of  January    of   this 
year  I  spent  at  Rockport  the  county  seat  of  Atchi- 
son County.     This  church    was    organized    by  the 
Upper  Missouri  Presbytery  before  the  union   took 
place.     After  the  English  Grove  church  four  miles 
from  there  took  the  Southern   shoot,  this   division 
operated  against  the   growth   of  our  denomination 
in  this  locality.      I  was  requested  to  give  one  Sab- 
bath  out   of   every   month   to   Rockport,    for    the 
ensuing  year,  the  third  Sabbath  to  Oak  Grove,  the 
fourth  Sabbath  to  Phelps  City.      On  the  fifth  Sab- 
bath, I  was  invited  to  begin  a  series  of  meetings  at 
Filmore,  then  supplied  by  Rev.   J.    N.    Young.      I 
began  at  the  time  appointed  and  preached  twice  a 
day  for  two  weeks.      Fifteen  were  received  to   the 
Filmore    church.     Two   of   these  members    were 
daughters  of  the  pastor.      Willow  Brook  asked  for 
a  series  of  meetings.      I  spent  a  week  with  them. 
It  was  a  precious  week  in  the  addition  of  substan- 
tial members.      I  baptized  one  of   the   converts   at 
the  age  of   sixty-seven.      This   week's   labors   for- 
warded measures  for  the  completion  of  their  house 
of  worship.      The  last  week  in   February  I  gave  to 
the   North   St.    Joseph    mission,  with  an    efficient 


128  ^i'fty   y^d^s  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

Sabbath  School,  preparing  the  way  for  organizing 
another  church  at  the  right  time.  The  months  of 
March  and  April  were  given  to  the  new  churches 
under  my  care.  In  May  I  was  called  to  Daviess 
county.  In  the  early  settlement  of  this  county 
Rev.  Artemas  Bullard,  D.D.,  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  of  St.  Louis,  the  real  superintendent 
of  Home  Missions  for  the  Synod  of  Missouri,  sent 
up  to  this  county  a  young  man,  a  licentiate  by  the 
name  of  Henderson,  who  was  in  search  of  afield  of 
ministerial  labor.  He  was  directed  to  Clear  Creek 
in  Daviess  County.  He  there  gathered  a  congrega- 
tion. Rev.  Timothy  Morgan,  of  Gentry  County, 
came  to  his  aid  and  organized  what  was  known  as 
the  Clear  Creek  Presbyterian  church.  Not  long 
after  this  he  was  taken  sick  and  died.  The  place 
of  his  burial  is  unknown.  The  Clear  Creek  church 
was  the  only  memorial  he  left.  This  was  scattered 
by  the  war. 

I  was  requested  to  visit  there  and  gather  together 
what  could  be  found.  On  going  there  I  found  the 
members  left  were  living  miles  from  the  old  center 
of  the  church  and  its  significant  name.  Therefore 
it  was  deemed  advisable  to  change  the  name  to 
Bethel,  and  build  their  meeting  house  in  the 
center  of  the  membership  now  there.  They  built 
themselves  a  pleasant  church  house  which  I  assist- 
ed in  dedicating  to  the  worship  of  the  Triune  God. 


Work  in  Missouri  129 


They  are  grouped  with  the  Gallatin  church.  On 
the  29th  of  April,  1871,  in  connection  with  Rev. 
Duncan  McRuer,  I  organized  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Gallatin  with  eleven  members.  A. 
McDowell  and  B.  Callahan  were  chosen  elders, 
ordained  and  installed  over  the  new  church.  I  re- 
mained and  preached  on  Sabbath,  received  one  new 
member  after  which  I  administered  to  them  the 
Lord's  supper,  returning  on  Monday  to  St.  Joseph. 
During  the  month  of  May  I  pursued  my  round 
among  the  unsupplied  churches.  The  General 
Assembly  met  at  Chicago  this  year.  I  took  a  few 
days  to  look  in  upon  them  and  learned  some  im- 
portant things.  Then  I  dropped  down  and  visited 
my  daughter  and  family  at  Berrien  Springs,  Mich., 
and  was  much  refreshed  with  a  week's  rest. 

At  the  fall  meeting  of  Presbytery  they  adjourned 
to  meet  at  Lathrop  on  the  ninth  of  October,  to 
ordain  and  install  licentiate  Joseph  H.  France,  if 
the  way  was  clear.  My  appointment  on  Sabbath 
the  8th  was  at  Rockport  seventy-five  miles  north- 
west from  St.  Joseph.  Presbytery  was  to  meet  on 
Monday  the  9th,  forty-five  miles  south-east  of  St. 
Joseph.  I  saw  no  way  to  reach  there  but  to  with- 
draw my  night  appointment  and  go  over  to  the  R. 
R.  five  miles  and  take  the  ten  o'clock  train  for  St. 
Joseph;  which  I  did  in  the  most  terrific  wind  storm 
I  ever  encountered.     I  reached  home  at  midnight 


130  Fifty  y^ci7's  on  the  SkirmisJi  Line 

and  learned  that  the  city  of  Chicago  was  all  on  fire. 
I  caught  only  four  hours   sleep,  and    at   6   A.    M., 
took  the  train  for  Lathrop.      The  storm  prevented 
a  quorum  and    we    had    to    wait    until    a    quorum 
came.      Presbytery  was  constituted    on    the    loth, 
the  candidate  received  from  Kansas  City  Presbytery, 
and  examined,  his  examination  was  sustained   and 
he  was  ordained  and  installed.     The  young  pastor 
and  his  wife  presented  their  first-born  son  for  bap- 
tism.     He  was  baptized.      Since  then  I  have   bap- 
tised another    son    and    daughter    for   these    dear 
parents.      He  is  now  pastor  of  a  church    of    about 
five  hundred  members.      On  the  20th  of  October, 
being  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Synod  of  Iowa,  I  looked 
in  upon  our  neighbors  on  the  north.      I   was  cor- 
dially received  and  spent  a  pleasant  and  profitable 
day  with  them.      I  found  Rev.  Luther  Dodd  with- 
out a  charge  and  asked  him  to  come  over  to   help 
us.      He  came  and  spent  some  years    in    Atchison 
County,  Mo.,  in  labors  for  Christ  and  the  upbuild- 
ing of  our  churches  in  that  county.      On  the  4th  of 
October  I  visited  Hackberry   Ridge  and    preached 
at  their  school  house,  which  visit  led  to  a  series  of 
meetings,   the  organization   of   a   church   and  the 
building  of  a  good  frame  church  within  a  year  from 
this  time.      On  the  following  Sabbath  I    dedicated 
the  new  church  at  Oak    Grove    and    received    two 
members   into    the    church.     November    5th,    we 


Work  m  Missouri  131 


dedicated  the  new  church  at  Willow  Brook  to  the 
worship  of  God,  followed  with  some  special  meet- 
ings. The  annual  thanksgiving  was  spent  with 
my  family. 

The  month  of  December  was  divided  between 
Willow  Brook,  Barnard,  Filmore,  a  series  of  meet- 
ings at  Rosendale,  and  a  series  at  Hackberry  Ridge 
which  led  to  the  organization  of  a  church  there, 
closing  the  year  1871  with  a  precious  ingathering 
of  converts  for  Christ. 

1872. — Spent  New  Year's  with  my  family.  On 
the  next  day  I  received  m}^  commission  as  Presby- 
terian Missionary  for  this  current  year.  After 
visiting  Dr.  Hill  at  Kansas  City,  and  settling  on 
plans  of  work  for  the  coming  year,  I  visited  Willow 
Brook  and  spent  four  days  with  them.  Then  I 
went  to  Barnard  to  hold  a  communion  service; 
had  a  preparatory  meeting  Saturday  and  examined 
candidates  for  membership,  preached  at  night,  and 
on  the  Sabbath.  Received  the  new  members, 
administered  the  Lord's  Supper,  preaching  also  at 
night.  After  returning  home,  I  went  to  Easton, 
and  married  Dr.  George  Loomis  to  Franke  Scoviel. 
At  home  I  found  a  letter  from  Rev.  J.  H.  France, 
asking  for  my  help  in  a  meeting  at  Lathrop.  Be- 
fore going  there  I  went  to  Hackberry,  preached 
there  twice.  At  Lathrop  I  preached  twice  every 
day  for  eight  days,  and  received  six  into  the  church 


132  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

as  the  fruit  of  the  labors.  Returned  to  St.  Joseph 
and  found  an  accumulation  of  letters  demanding 
answers  at  once.  On  Saturday,  I  left  for  Barnard, 
preached  on  Sabbath,  receiving  into  the  church 
and  baptizing  Ida  Jane  McCandless;  returned 
home  Monday.  By  request  I  went  to  Osborn  on 
Wednesday  and  visited  Mr.  George  A.  McKinlay, 
who  was  considering  the  question,  "Ought  I  to  give 
myself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  of  the  gospel?" 
We  had  a  full  consideration  of  the  above  question. 
He  decided  to  begin  a  course  of  preparation  which 
I  suggested  for  him.  He  has  been  a  useiul  min- 
ister twenty  years.  I  returned  home,  but  left  at 
once  for  Filmore,  where  I  preached  three  times  and 
held  a  session  meeting.  On  Friday,  February  23d, 
I  went  down  to  Weston,  preached  that  night,  and 
spent  Saturday  visiting  families,  preaching  again  at 
night.  Three  interesting  cases  offered  themselves 
for  membership  to  the  church.  John  and  George 
Brill  and  Mrs.  Laura  Maitland,  the  only  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  George  W.  Goodale.  They  were  ex- 
amined and  accepted  by  the  session.  Mr.  John 
Cameron  and  wife  from  Montreal,  Canada,  were 
received  by  letter.  After  sermon  on  Sabbath 
morning  these  persons  were  admitted  to  church 
fellowship.  The  work  continued  till  Tuesday  night 
when  Mr.  Solomon  Wallace  came  forward  asking 
for  membership.     After  being  examined,  received 


Work  in  Missou7'i  133 


and  baptized,  he  entered  into  covenant  with  the 
church.  I  left  the  church  hopeful,  returning  home 
March  ist.  March  2nd,  I  left  for  Willow  Brook 
where  I  preached  two  sermons  on  the  Sabbath. 
Monday  was  devoted  to  changing  residences  from 
8th  to  loth  street.  The  next  Saturday  I  went  up 
to  Barnard,  and  preached  two  sermons  on  the 
Sabbath.  At  five  P.  M.,  on  Monday,  I  left  for 
Quincy  to  meet  my  wife,  on  her  return  from  Mich- 
igan. 

Thursday  took  me  to  Filmore,  where  I  preached 
that  night,  Friday  and  Saturday  nights.  On  Sab- 
bath I  preached  and  received  and  baptized  Mrs. 
Root,  a  lady  seventy-six  years  old.  The  next  day 
after  my  return  home,  I  left  for  Bethel  church, 
Daviess  County.  Rev.  Mr.  Pinkerton  was  there. 
On  Friday  I  preached  the  first  sermon  in  their 
new  church  house,  preaching  also  at  night  and 
Saturday  morning.  Brother  Pinkerton  preached 
Saturday  night.  Four  persons  came  forward  to 
the  church.  Sunday  March  24th,  I  preached  and 
dedicated  their  new  church  house  to  the  worship 
of  God.  After  this  I  received  the  four  candi- 
dates for  membership  to  the  church,  two  by  letter 
and  two  on  profession  of  their  faith.  Brother 
Pinkerton  then  administered  the  Lord's  Supper, 
and  preached  at  night.  The  house  was  packed 
both  times.      On  Monday  I  preached  at  1 1    A.  M. 


134  ^^fh^  Yeai'S  on  the  Skir?Mish  Line 

and  at  7  P.  M.,  and  after  preaching  on  Tuesday 
at  1 1  A.  M.  I  took  my  leave  of  this  people  who  had 
endeared  themselves  to  us  hy  their  kindness. 
Bethel  is  near  Gallatin,  and  there  I  met  the  clerk 
of  the  session  and  reviewed  the  minutes  of  the 
Gallatin  church  beside  assisting  him  in  making  his 
report  to  Presbytery.  Preached  at  night  in  the 
courthouse,  and  left  for  home  next  morning,  but 
went  on  the  same  night  to  Weston.  Sabbath, 
March  31st,  was  Easter,  and  I  preached  on  the 
resurrection,  followed  by  an  evening  service. 

April  2nd  the  spring  meeting  of  Platte  Presbytery 
was  held  at  Savannah.  I  was  unexpectedly  called 
to  preach  the  opening  sermon.  It  fell  to  me  to 
preside  until  Rev.  M.  L.  Anderson  was  chosen 
moderator.  Wednesday  came  my  report  on  mission 
work  done,  also  the  report  of  a  committee  on  Sab- 
bath Schools.  I  spoke  Thursday  on  the  relation  of 
the  church  to  Sabbath  Schools.  Friday  returned 
home  to  attend  to  my  correspondence.  The  next 
Sabbath  was  spent  at  Willow  Brook,  and  after  a 
visit  to  Hamilton,  I  went  to  Wheeling  where  I  spent 

Sabbath,  speaking  words  of  encouragement  to  a 
discouraged  people.  Returned  home  on  my  sixtieth 
birthday.  My  diary  reads:  "Thirty  six  years  I 
have  been  a  minister  of  Christ's  gospel.  Oh!  what 
a  privilege  to  do  and  suffer,  for  One  who  has 
suffered  so  much  for  me!" 


Work  in  Missouri  135 


Saturday  April  27th,  a  telegram  came  from  Mr. 
James  McCandless  of  Barnard,  that  his  adopted 
daughter  Ida  Jane  had  died.  I  hurried  away  on 
the  first  train  and  preached  her  funeral  sermon  on 
Sabbath  morning.  In  the  afternoon  I  married  Mr. 
John  V.  Nelson  of  Maryville  to  Miss  Lizzie  Bar- 
ringer  of  Bolckow.  On  Friday,  May  3,  I  was 
called  to  Mound  City  to  organize  a  Presbyterian 
church. 

Sunday  May  5th,  I  preached  from  i  Tim.  3:15: 
The  church  of  the  living  God,  the  ground  and 
pillar  of  truth.  After  sermon,  six  persons  pre- 
sented themselves  as  desiring  the  organization  of  a 
Presbyterian  church  at  Mound  City.  These  persons 
accepted  the  doctrines  and  received  the  form  of 
government  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  They 
covenanted  with  Almighty  God  and  each  other. 
They  then  chose  W.  W.  Frazier  as  elder.  He 
was  duly  ordained  and  installed  overseer  of  the  new 
church.  The  Lord's  table  was  then  spread  and 
the  sacrament  of  the  Supper  was  administered.  I 
returned  home  on  Monday  and  spent  the  week 
there.  Saturday  May  nth  I  went  to  Hackberry 
to  prepare  for  the  organization  of  a  Presbyterian, 
church  there  on  the  morrow,  preaching  at  night 
and  also  on  Sabbath  morning.  At  three  o'clock, 
Dr.  Cruickshank  came  over  from  Savannah  to 
assist.       Twenty-six   candidates   presented    them- 


136  F'ifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

selves,  the  majority  of  them  were  the  fruit  of  the 
series  of  meetings  held  the  last  week  of  December, 
1 871.  They  accepted  the  doctrines  of  and  received 
the  polity  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  covenanted 
with  God  and  each  other.  John  Legget,  Theo- 
dore Hunter  and  Elijah  Martin  were  chosen  elders. 
These  brethern  were  ordained  and  set  over  this 
church.      I  returned  home  Monday. 

May  1 8th,  went  to  Filmore,  and  had  an  evening 
service.  A  session  meeting  was  held  and  three 
members  were  suspended  from  the  communion  of 
the  church.  Sunday  May  19th,  communion  was 
held,  the  sermon  being  from  John  11:56:  The 
Feast  and  its  Guest.  I  went  to  Breckenridge  on 
Wednesday  and  reviewed  the  records  oi  that  church. 
Sabbath  was  spent  at  Barnard.  Saturday  June 
1st,  I  went  to  Mirabile  and  preached  Sabbath  morn- 
ing and  night,  returning  Monday.  A  week  later  I 
went  to  Barnard  and  met  those  who  were  anxious 
to  build  a  meeting  house.  A  subscription  paper 
was  drawn  up  and  received  a  fair  start.  Made 
calls  Saturday  on  families,  preaching  at  2  P.  M.  a 
sermon  preparatory  to  the  communion.  James 
Garvin  and  wife  were  received  by  letter.  Chris- 
topher Baker,  and  James  Garvin  were  chosen 
deacons.  Preached  on  Sunday  and  administered 
the  Lord's  Supper.  Thursday  June  13th,  Henry 
Page  M.  D.,  was  married  to  my  niece.  Miss  Carrie 


Work  in  Missouri  137 


O.  Cheeseman,  at    Dr.  Willis   M.  Sherwood's,  St. 
Joseph. 

The  next  Sabbath  was  spent  at  Filmore.  On 
Friday  June  2  ist,  I  went  to  Albany,  Gentry  County, 
to  begin  a  series  of  meetings,  on  invitation  of  Rev. 
Duncan  McRuer,  stated  supply;  preached  Friday 
and  Saturday  nights.  Sabbath  morning  sixteen 
candidates  were  examined  by  the  session  and  ac- 
cepted. Three  were  baptized.  Rev.  McRuer  admin- 
istered the  Lord's  Supper.  I  preached  at  night  and 
found  deep  interest.  A  children's  meeting  was  held 
on  the  24th.  We  continued  the  meetings,  visiting 
during  each  day  until  July  2d,  when  I  visited 
Martinsville  and  preached  on  "Our  Mission; 
Saving  the  Lost."  The  next  day  I  was  again  at 
Albany  and  on  Thursday,  July  4th,  I  returned 
home. 

Saturday  July  6th  took  me  to  Forest  City  to  ex- 
amine that  church.  After  an  interview  with  the 
session,  it  seemed  best  for  me  to  stay  over  the 
Sabbath,  and  preach  in  the  Baptist  church.  After 
sermon,  the  congregation  requested  me  to  supply 
them  once  a  month  until  the  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery. The  13th  was  spent  at  Barnard;  preached 
twice  on  the  Sabbath. 

On  the  19th  I  went  to  Filmore,  and  held  a  meet- 
ing at  3  o'clock  On  Sabbath  I  called  a  meeting 
at  2  o'clock    of    all    the  children   of   Filmore   and 


138  F'ifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

their  parents;  gave  them  a  talk  on  Sunday  School 
and  organized  a  Sunday  School.  Wednesday,  July 
24th,  a  letter  came  to  me  from  Dr.  Wilson,  Secre- 
tary of  the  Board  of  Church  Erection,  containing  a 
draft  for  one  thousand  dollars  requesting  me  to  act 
as  their  agent  in  seeing  to  the  title  and  conveyance 
of  a  church  belonging  to  the  Wesleyan  Methodists 
of  Hamilton.  I  went  down  to  Hamilton  that  night, 
and  spent  the  next  day  in  examining  papers  per- 
taining to  the  transfer  of  the  property.  They  were 
defective  and  I  demanded  that  a  new  deed  be  made. 
On  August  2nd,  a  letter  reached  me  from  Hamilton 
saying  that  everything  had  been  made  right.  When 
I  went  down  I  found  the  business  done  wrong.  I 
told  them  I  would  not  pay  over  a  cent  of  money 
until  everything  was  right,  and  hence  returned  home 
and  deposited  the  money  in  bank.  The  evening 
of  August  3d  I  preached  in  Forest  City.  The 
church  chose  Mr.  John  Demuth  elder.  Having 
already  been  ordained  and  having  served  in  that 
capacity,  he  was  immediately  installed.  Mrs. 
France  presented  a  letter  from  the  Fourth  Presby- 
terian church  of  Washington  City,  D.  C. ,  and  she 
was  received.  Sabbath  morning  after  sermon  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered. 
I  gave  the  week  following  to  Filmore,  holding 
meetings  every  night,  and  closing  my  year's  engage- 
ment with  them.      Upon  my  return  home   I  found 


Work  in  Missoic7'i  139 


my  wife  sick,  and  at  once  wrote   for  the  return  of 
our  youngest  daughter  from  Michigan. 

Sabbath  September  ist,  was  my  day  at  Forest 
City,  and  in  the  morning  I  preached  from  Joshua 
24:15  on  Family  ReHgion;  in  the  evening  from  Isa. 
57:21:  No  peace  to  the  wicked.  September  3d 
the  fall  meeting  of  our  Presbytery  was  held  at 
Oregon.  On  entering  upon  business,  I  offered  the 
following:  "Resolved,  That  the  time  has  come 
when  Platte  Presbytery  should  undertake  the  work 
of  founding  a  training  school  for  the  education  of 
ministers  and  teachers  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
Missouri  valley."  I  made  my  report  on  Home 
Missionary  work  done  in  the  Presbytery  of  Platte. 
The  report  was  accepted  and  adopted.  Presbytery 
voted  to  request  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  to 
renew  my  commission  for  another  year.  I  was 
appointed  a  committee  to  bring  in  a  report  on  a 
training  school  at  the  spring  meeting.  I  was  also 
appointed  on  mances,  and  with  others  on  grouping 
churches.  Mr.  George  A.  McKinlay  was  licensed 
to  preach  and  a  course  of  study  was  designated. 
Presbytery  adjourned  to  meet  at  Weston. 

On  the  1 2th  I  received  a  letter  informing  me  of 
the  sickness  of  my  aged  mother,  and  her  strong 
desire  to  see  me  at  her  bed  side.  I  made  my  ar- 
rangements to  leave  on  the  following  Monday.  In 
the  meantime  I  went  down  and  filled  an  appoint- 


140  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Li  fie 

ment  at  Parkville  on  Friday  September  13th, 
spending  the  night  with  Hon.  George  S.  Park,  one 
of  the  elders  of  the  church  and  the  founder  of  it. 
I  took  a  horse  and  visited  the  members  of  the 
church,  of  whom  I  found  sixteen  resident.  They 
had  a  stone  church  house  and  a  small  brick  par- 
sonage. They  gave  me  a  good  audience.  On  Sab- 
bath September  15th,  I  preached  to  them 
in  the  morning.  I  left  St.  Joseph  Monday  morning 
for  Millville,  N.  Y,  reaching  Medina  at  4  P.  M.  on 
the  15th  of  September.  My  brother  Guy  met  me 
at  Medina  and  drove  me  to  his  home  where  I  met 
my  sisters,  Mrs.  Jane  Cheeseman,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Ryan  and  sister  Maria,  Brother  Guy's  wife. 
After  tea,  I  visited  our  mother.  She  was  waiting 
for  me.  I  found  her  in  possession  of  her  mental 
and  spiritual  powers.  She  was  physically  very 
feeble.  My  sisters  had  been  with  her  about  two 
weeks.  They  had  left  their  families  for  this  last 
care  they  could  render  to  one  of  the  best  of 
mothers.  On  Sabbath  morning,  September  22nd, 
I  preached  at  the  church  where  1  united  on  the  first 
Sabbath  of  April,  1831.  My  mother  was  the  last 
members  surviving  of  those  who  entered  into  the 
organization.  As  I  looked  over  the  congregation 
that  mornnig  I  saw  I  was  the  oldest  one  present. 
I  addressed  the  Sabbath  school  and  preached  at 
night.      Sister  Hatch  came  up  on  Monday  morning 


Work  in  Missouri  141 


from  Rochester.  Sister  Ryan  felt  that  she  could 
remain  no  longer.  It  was  her  last  interview  with 
mother  until  they  met  in  the  great  beyond,  a  few 
years  after.  (Her  death  was  very  sudden  and  with- 
out warning.  She  led  in  the  family  worship  hymn, 
"I  love  to  tell  the  story."  Prayer  was  offered 
by  her  husband.  She  retired  to  their  bed. 
They  had  not  been  in  bed  over  an  hour, 
when  her  husband  heard  a  strange  sound.  He 
arose,  struck  a  light,  but  her  spirit  had  gone  to 
God  who  gave  it.  She  was  at  home  among  the 
redeemed  before  the  throne.  She  was  fitted  for 
the  enjoyment  and  employments  of  that  world.) 
The  leave-taking  was  too  much  for  mother.  She 
had  a  sinking  time  after  it.  On  the  24th,  Sister 
Cheeseman  took  her  leave  of  mother.  She  has  also 
joined  her  on  the  other  shore.  (She  was  not  trans- 
lated like  Sister  Ryan.  Hers  was  death  from 
cancer  in  the  stomach.  She  bore  the  pain  with 
Christian  fortitude.  She  has  been  joined  by  her 
son,  Rev.  Eugene  G.  Cheeseman,  Marcellus,  N.  Y. , 
who  was  taken  away  from  his  work  ere  he  reached 
his  prime.)  When  my  sister  left,  mother  seemed 
to  cling  to  me.  She  became  quite  worried,  fearing 
that  I  might  have  to  leave  also.  I  told  her  I  came 
to  remain  with  her  until  she  was  better  or  worse. 
This  relieved  her  mind  and  she  wanted  me  by  her 
bed  side.     Sister  Hatch  came   from    Rochester  to 


142  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

remain  till  the  closing  scene.  We  all  saw  that  it 
was  nearing.  The  last  Sabbath  mother  spent  on 
earth  sister  Hatch  and  myself  were  with  her.  She 
fully  realized  that  she  was  near  her  rest.  She 
longed  to  enter  into  rest.  Wednesday  the  9th  of 
October  she  asked  us,  not  to  pray  that  her  life  be 
continued  in  this  vale  of  tears.  During  the  day 
she  lay  in  a  comatose  state,  rarely  speaking.  About 
7  P.  M.  her  arm  was  pulseless,  and  the  death-damp 
was  on  her  person.  At  9  o'clock,  she  offered  a 
short  prayer,  and  after  a  few  minutes,  she  said, 
"Come,  Lord  Jesus,"  repeating  it  four  times.  She 
paused  as  in  the  very  presence  of  her  Lord  Jesus, 
and  then  said:  "Into  thy  hands,  dear  Lord  Jesus, 
I  commend  my  spirit."  She  then  carried  my  hand 
which  was  on  her  wrist,  to  the  top  of  her  head, 
and  placed  it  there.  She  seemed  conscious  of  the 
death  line.  It  had  not  reached  the  base  of  her 
brain.  I  put  my  hand  down  upon  her  cheek  and 
watched  the  dead  line  as  it  advanced  upward  until 
it  struck  the  base  of  her  brain,  the  moment  that  it 
touched  the  vital  nerve  her  spirit  took  its  flight. 
Such  a  death  I  never  saw  before.  It  was  the  over- 
shadowing of  the  divine  presence  of  her  dear  Lord 
Jesus,  who  had  answered  her  call,  and  accepted  her 
spirit  that  she  had  commended  to  Him.  She  was 
eighty-eight  years  and  twenty-two  days  old.  Her 
mother,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Adams  Barber,  the  wife  of 


Work  in  Missouri  143 


Judge  Elisha  Barber,  lived  to  be  eighty-eight  ye^rs 
and    two  months    old.      My    grandfather,    Nathan 
Sherwood  lived  to  be  eighty-four.   My  grandmother 
Joanna  Noble  Sherwood    lived  to    be    eighty-six. 
My  mother  made  a  profession  of  religion  at  the  age 
of  eighteen.      On  Friday,  October  i  ith,  her  funeral 
was  attended  at  her  house.      Her    sons    bore    the 
casket  to  the  cemetery  my  father   had   deeded   for 
that  purpose  from  his  farm  in  1820.      We  laid  her 
body  beside  father's,    who    died    on   his   eightieth 
birthday.      My  own    daughter   and   son    are   sweet 
sleepers  by  their  side.    My  sister,  Mrs.  Cheeseman, 
was  soon  laid  beside  our    mother,  borne    there  by 
four  of  her  sons. 

On  the  Sabbath  following  her  death  I  preached 
at  Millville  on  the  employments  and  enjoyments  of 
heaven.  On  the  14th  of  October,  I  left  for  my 
home,  called  on  my  children  at  Berrien,  Michigan, 
and  reached  home  in  safety.  The  following  Sab- 
bath I  attended  church  with  my  wife  the  first  time 
in  eighteen  months. 

On  the  22nd  of  October,  I  left  for  Maryville  to 
attend  an  adjourned  meeting  of  Platte  Presbytery, 
and  was  called  to  preach  the  opening  sermon  on 
fifteen  minutes  notice. 

On  Friday  the  25th,  I  went  down  to  Parkville, 
spent  the  night  with  Col.  Park,  and  gave  the  next 
day  to  calling  from  house  to  house   upon   families. 


144  ^^^f^y  y^^^'s  071  the  SkinnisJi  Line 


On  Sabbath  I  preached  morning  and  evening.  My 
object  was  the  re-establishing  of  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  in  Parkville.  They  had  been  more  than 
two  years  without  preaching.  The  visit  resulted 
in  their  raising  funds  to  repair  the  church  and  to 
secure  preaching  alternate  Sabbaths.  Early  in 
November  I  returned  to  Parkville,  to  commence 
the  preparatory  meeting  for  the  communion.  A 
session  was  held  on  Saturday  preceding  and  Mr. 
Stone  and  wife,  and  Mr.  Davidson  and  wife  were 
received  by  letters.  I  preached  at  night.  On 
Sabbath  morning,  the  church  renewed  their  cove- 
nant, the  Lord's  Supper  was  served,  and  regular 
services  were  held.  These  meetings  introduced  a 
new  order  of  things  at  Parkville.  On  November 
i6th,  I  was  called  to  Filmore  to  re-dedicate  their 
church  after  substantial  repairs,  the  erection  of 
a  tower,  and  the  introduction  of  a  bell.  Also  I 
drew  up  articles  of  incorporation  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Filmore.  On  Friday  22nd,  I  again 
went  to  Parkville,  spent  Saturday  in  calling. 
Preached  that  night,  also  on  the  Sabbath.  At  night 
the  service  was  at  Prairie  Point,  about  five  miles 
north  of  Parkville.  Returning  home  I  found  my 
wife  quite  sick,  and  was  shut  in  with  her  until  Satur- 
day afternoon,  when  I  left  to  fill  an  appointment 
at  Gallatin,  where  I  preached  twice  in  the  court 
house  on  the  Sabbath. 


Work  in  Missouri  145 


Wednesday,  December  4th,  at  a  called  meeting 
of  Presbytery,  I  was  called  to  preside  in  the  exam- 
ination of  Mr.  Frank  L.  Phelps  as  to  his  qualifica- 
tions to  preach  the  gospel.  He  was  adjudged 
worthy  and  was  duly  licensed.  He  was  of  lovely 
spirit,  and  was  invited  to  supply  Oak  Grove.  While 
doing  his  work  with  that  church  he  was  taken 
with  a  fever  by  which  he  sank  into  the  arms  of 
death. 

December  6th,  I  was  at  Parkville,  preached 
Saturday  night  and  Sabbath  morning,  and  at  3  P. 
M.  at  the  house  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.Threlkeld,  baptizing 
their  children,  George,  Theodore,  and  Eva  Rose 
May,  and  at  the  same  place  and  time  baptized  the 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kahm,  Minerva,  Walter  and 
Frederick.  Services  continued  until  Tuesday  night 
with  good  congregations.  I  returned  to  St.  Joseph 
Wednesday,  and  made  out  my  report  to  the  Board 
of  Home  Missions. 

Friday,  December  13th,  I  left  for  Martinsville, 
Harrison  county,  having  a  very  cold  ride;  preached 
at  night  in  their  new  meeting  house,  and  dedicated 
it  on  Sabbath  morning,  preaching  again  at  night, 
with  three  Methodist  ministers  to  hear  me,  and  a 
large  audience.  The  meeting  continued  Monday, 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday.  On  Thursday  we  held 
a  meeting  at  the  house  of  James  Scott,  preparatory 
to  organizing  a  Presbyterian  Church.     The  sermon 


146  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir??iish  Line 

was  from  James  3:15.  "The  church  of  the  hving 
God,"  after  which  a  church  of  twelve  members  was 
organized.  James  Scott  Jr.,  and  Archibald  Scott, 
having  served  as  elders  in  Scotland  were  chosen 
to  the  eldership  and  duly  installed,  after  which  the 
Lord's  supper  was  administered. 

On  Thursday,  December  19th,  I  returned  from 
Martinsville  and  spent  the  following  week  v/ith 
my  family. 

On  the  28th  of  December  I  went  to  Plattsburgh, 
Clinton  county,  on  business  for  my  brother,  Willis 
M.  Sherwood,  made  sale  of  $2000.00  worth  of 
property  and  secured  my  son  where  he  had  en- 
dorsed bank  notes  for  my  brother  Willis.  Returned 
and  spent  the  Sabbath  with  my  family  at  West- 
minister church. 

Gave  the  fijst  ten  days  of  the  year  1873  to 
a  united  prayer  meeting  for  a  revival  of  religion 
in  St.  Joseph.  On  the  iith  of  January  I  went  to 
Parkville.  I  preached  at  night  on  the  want  of 
willing  workers  in  the  harvest  field  of  the  world, 
and  on  Sabbath  morning  to  the  young  people;  at 
night  on  Christ  our  Advocate.  My  wife  was  taken 
sick,  spent  most  of  the  week  caring  for  her.  On 
Saturday  went  to  Rosendale.  Preached  on  Sab- 
bath twice.  On  the  25th  of  January  went  again  to 
Parkville,  preached  at  3  P.  M.  W^e  received  two 
by  letter,  one  on  profession.    After  sermon  Sabbath 


Work  171  Missouri  147 


morning  session  met  and  examined  one  candidate 
for  membership,  and  accepted  two  from  the  Bap- 
tist church,  making  six  members  received,  after 
which  the  Lord's  supper  was  served.  The  evening 
service  was  at  Prairie   Point. 

February  ist  was  spent  at  Oak  Grove  and  Mis- 
sion Chapel  in  North  St.  Joseph,  with  another 
service  on  Monday  night.  The  next  Sabbath  morn- 
ing at  Parkville  after  a  sermon  on  feeding  the 
lambs,  I  organized  a  Sabbath  School  of  fifty 
scholars.  The  following  week  and  Sabbath  was 
spent  with  my  family  in  St.  Joseph. 

Following  my  previous  work  at  Parkville,  I 
preached  on  Sabbath  Schools  in  the  morning,  re- 
mained over  Monday  and  preached  at  the  German 
church  near  Parkville.  My  next  visit  to  Parkville 
was  an  important  one.  I  spent  the  night  with  the 
Hon.  George  S.  Park,  discussing  at  length  the 
necessity  of  a  training  school  to  raise  up  our 
Christian  workers.  On  March  13th  visited  Rev. 
Frank  L.  Phelps  at  Oak  Grove,  suffering  from 
typhoid  fever,  prayed  with  him  and  parted  with 
him  until  we  meet  on  the  other  shore.  On  March 
14th  went  to  Ebenezer  church  in  Carroll  county. 
Preached  to  them  seven  sermons,  baptized  the  son 
of  the  elder  of  the  church,  administered  to  them 
the  Lord's  supper,  and  took  measures  to  have  them 
supplied   with  preaching.      Left   on  Tuesday   the 


148  F^fty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

1 8th  of  March,  found  on  arriving  at  Carrollton 
that  the  trains  were  deranged.  Reached  Kansas 
City  in  time  to  get  a  train  for  Parkville  to  marry 
Daniel  Diester  to  Mary  N.  Dawson  at  Mrs.  Dr. 
Moore's.      That  night  went  on  to  St.  Joseph, 

Saturday,  March  22d,  returned  to  Parkville, 
preached  at  night.  Mr.  John  Long  and  Miss  Eliza 
Ayers  came  before  the  session  for  membership. 
They  were  examined  and  received.  After  sermon 
on  Sabbath  morning  Mr.  Long  was  baptized.  The 
candidates  then  were  received  to  the  church.  On 
my  return  home  I  found  a  letter  from  Dr.  Kendall, 
Secretary  of  the  Board,  commending  my  work  as 
Presbyterial  Missionary.  Beginning  with  March 
25th,  a  week  was  spent  at  Hackberry  Ridge  in 
the  new  church  house.  On  the  concluding  Sabbath, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Barr  and  Miss  Katie  Lanford  were 
received  into  communion  of  the  church,  the  latter 
being  baptized.  After  which  the  Lord's  supper 
was  administered. 

On  Tuesday  April  ist,  Presbytery  met  at  Weston. 
My  wife  accompanied  me.  We  were  entertained 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maitland.  My  report  on  training 
school  for  Christian  workers  was  backed  by  the  lib- 
eral offer  of  Mr.  George  S.  Park  of  his  hotel  property 
in  Parkville,  and  land  enough  for  a  home  for  such  a 
school.  The  report  was  accepted,  the  committee 
continued,  with  thanks  to  Mr.  Park  for  his  generous 


Work  in  Missouri  149 


offer.  I  reported  also  as  Presbyterial  Missionary 
and  as  committee  on  Sabbath  schools.  On  Sab- 
bath following  I  preached  for  Dr.  Bullard  at  St. 
Joseph. 

After  preaching  two  sermons  at  Parkville,  married 
Mr.  John  Long  to  Miss  Eliza  Ayres  on  April  13th, 

1873. 

Passed  my  sixty-third  birth-day  with  my  family. 

On  the  1 8th  of  April  1  received  a  telegram  from  Hop- 
kins, Mo.,  to  visit  that  young  town,  just  rising  in- 
to importance  as  the  connecting  link  between  the 
Kansas  City  and  St.  Joseph  R.  R.,  and  the  Iowa 
branch  from  Creston.  I  went  up  that  night,  and 
had  an  interview  with  W.  K.  Adams  and  others. 
On  Saturday  visited  families  desirous  of  church 
privileges.  On  the  Sabbath  at  3  P.  M.  I  preached 
in  the  Methodist  church.  Subject,  Prophecy  to  the 
Bones,  Ezek.  37:4.  The  next  day,  Monday,  I  spent 
in  looking  up  the  lost  sheep  who  were  seeking  a 
Presbyterian  fold.  Twenty  gave  me  their  names. 
Went  to  Parkville  Friday,  and  gave  Saturday  to 
calling  on  families.  Preached  at  night;  on  Sabbath 
twice.  Tuesday  April  29th  married  Mr.  Adolphus 
Musser  to  Mrs.  Susan  A.  Ritchester  at  her  father's 
house,  Mr.  Wilkinson.  Returned  home  May  2nd. 
Left  for  Hopkins,  and  stopped  with  Mr.  Dryden. 
Spent  Saturday  in  calling.  Found  more  seeking  a 
Presbyterian  fold.      Preached  on  May  4th  twice  to 


150  ^ifty  y^cirs  071  the  Skirmish  Line 

a  full  house.  Received  a  telegram  to  return  to 
St.  Joseph  and  preached  Mr.  Frederick  Marey's 
funeral  sermon  on  the  6th  of  May.  Spent  the 
loth  and  nth  of  May  at  Parkville.  Preached 
three  times.  Friday,  May  20th,  went  to  Hopkins. 
Spent  the  21st  calling.  At  3  o'clock  P.  M.  I 
preached  from  Ps.  20:5,  Setting  up  our  banner  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord.  Received  fourteen  letters. 
One  came  on  profession  of  faith.  Sunday,  June 
I  St,  preached  on  ist  Timothy  3:15,  the  church 
of  the  living  God,  the  pillar  and  ground  of  truth. 
The  candidates  then  came  forward  as  their  names 
were  called  and  entered  into  covenant  with  God 
and  each  other.  They  chose  W.  K.  Adams  and 
George  Hotaling  elders.  They  were  then  consti- 
tuted the  Presbyterian  church  of  Hopkins.  I 
preached  at  night  on  the  eldership  and  its  obliga- 
tions from  Acts  20:28,  and  ordained  and  installed 
the  elders  chosen. 

Saturday,  June  7th,  was  spent  at  Parkville. 
Preached  three  times.  The  next  week  I  attended  a 
picnic  of  the  Sabbath  school.  Made  an  address 
with  other  services. 

Friday  June  13th.  Having  an  invitation  to  visit 
Platte  City  as  Presbyterial  Missionary,  I  went  there, 
visited  their  families,  met  their  session  and  preached 
for  them. 

They  expressed  a  desire  for  a  supply  from  Platte 


Work  in  Missouri  151 


Presbytery.  We  were  not  able  to  supply  them  at 
that  time.  June  25th.  Heard  of  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Frazier,  one  of  the  members  of  Parkville  church. 
Visited  family,  made  arrangements  for  the  funeral 
at  4  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the  Sabbath.  Preached  Sab- 
bath morning.  Attended  Mrs.  Frazier's  funeral  at 
their  home,  expounded  I  Thess.  4;  13:18.  Had 
letters  from  my  old  fields  of  ministerial  labor, 
Liverpool  and  Pitcher,  N.    Y. 

Thursday  June  26.  Visited  King  City.  They 
have  a  small  church  with  a  large  open  field  all 
around  them.  Gave  them  five  sermons.  Visited 
from  house  to  house.  Administered  the  Sacraments 
of  our  church.  Returning  home  I  found  a  letter 
from  the  stated  clerk  of  my  old  Presbytery  where 
I  began  my  ministry  in  1837,  saying  they  would  be 
glad  to  welcome  me  back  to  that  Presbytery  again. 
Two  weeks  later  a  second  letter  came  requesting 
me  to  come  back  and  undertake  the  work  of  ai^ 
Evangelist  for  that  Presbytery. 

Saturday  July  5th.  Went  to  Hopkins.  Preached 
Sabbath  morning  and  night.  On  Friday  July  nth 
attendedour  July  communion  season,  Parkville.  My 
time  was  divided  this  year  between  Parkville  and 
Hopkins,  alternating  between  these  churches. 
On  Sabbath  July  27th,  I  preached  at  Parkville  on 
ruling  elders.  The  church  then  chose  Mr.  Gano 
elder.      He  was  ordained  and  installed.      The  same 


152  FV^y  y^ci'i's  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

day  I  preached  on  the  subject  of  infant  baptism  at 
the  house  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Moore.  At  the  close  of  sermon 
Mr.  Benjamin  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Dawson  pre- 
sented seven  children  for  baptism:  Daniel,  Frazier, 
George,  William,  Valinda,  Benjamin,  John  Moore, 
and  Charles,  which  were  baptized.  August  3d, 
preached  and  administered  Lord's  supper  at  Hop- 
kins. 

August  17th,  preached  at  Hopkins  twice.  Re- 
ceived Mrs.  Iden  to  the  church  on  profession  of 
her  faith.  August  31.  Was  called  to  Dawn  on 
committee  to  examine  into  the  wishes  of  a  Welsh 
church,  who  asked  for  membership  with  Platte 
Presbytery.  Presbytery  held  its  fall  meeting  at 
Cameron,  during  which  the  Rev.  Joseph  H. 
France  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Cameron  church. 
Called  to  Hopkins  by  telegram  to  attend  the  funeral 
of  Mrs.  Bradley.  Remained,  attended  to  pastoral 
duties,  until  after  the  Sabbath.  On  23d  of  Sep- 
tember married  my  daughter,  Sarah  Lucy,  to  Mr. 
Joseph  R.  Taylor,  M.  D. 

October  7th.  Presbytery  of  Platte  called  to  meet 
at  North  St.  Joseph  Mission  Chapel,  7: 30  P.  M.,  to 
consider  the  question  of  organizing  a  Presbyterian 
church  at  the  Chapel.  A  quorum  not  appearing, 
I  was  asked  as  Presbyterial  Missionary  to  assume 
the  responsibility  of  organizing  a  church.  Twelve 
candidates  presented  themselves.      Five  presented 


Work  in  Missouri  153 


letters  of  dismission,  which  were  regular.  Seven 
professed  their  faith  in  Christ.  Three  were  bap- 
tized. The  twelve  gave  their  assent  to  the  fun- 
damental doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
its  polity,  covenanting  with  Almighty  God  and  with 
each  other.  They  chose  D.  B.  Elliott  and  J.  A. 
Riggs  elders.  These  brethren  answered  the  con- 
stitutional questions.  They  were  then  set  apart  as 
elders  and  installed  over  North  St.  Joseph  Presby- 
terian church. 

October  8th.  The  Presbytery  of  Platte  met  at 
Oak  Grove  church  to  ordain  and  install  Licentiate 
Wm.  H.  Ilsley  as  pastor  of  that  church.  In  the 
absence  of  the  moderator  it  became  my  duty  to  pre- 
side, and  examine  the  candidate,  and  to  propound 
the  constitutional  questions,  and  make  the  ordin- 
ation prayer,  and  deliver  the  charge  to  the  people. 
As  commissioner  of  Platte  Presbytery,  I  attended 
the  Mission  Chapel  at  North  St. Joseph,  preached  a 
sermon,  proposed  the  constitutional  question  and 
installed  the  Rev.  William  H.  Ilsley  as  pastor  of 
the  North  Presbyterian  church  of  St.  Joseph. 

Left  for  Parkville  to  commence  a  series  of  meet- 
ings on  the  23d  of  October.  Began  with  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  and  held  twelve  services.  Re- 
ceived two  by  letters  and  two  on  profession  of  faith. 
Attended  one  funeral.  Returning  to  Hopkins,  I 
visited    seventeen   new  families,   assisted  by  Rev. 


154  Fifh*  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

Randolph  of  Bradford,  Iowa.  Saturday  we 
held  children's  meeting.  Mr.  Adams  talked  to 
children.  Preached  Saturday  night,  and  again 
Sabbath  night  to  a  full  house.  The  following  week 
there  were  some  conversions.  Met  a  gentle- 
man who  gave  me  $i.oo  on  hearing  of  my  work. 
Thursday  our  national  Thanksgiving,  our  family 
were  together  at  our  house.  Was  awakened  this 
morning  by  a  fire  consuming  the  next  door  neigh- 
bor's house.  Our  Heavenly  Fathersent  a  wi  nd  that 
carried  the  flame  from  us. 

Saturday,  November  29th.  Went  to  Osborn. 
Spent  the  day  in  calling.  Preached  at  night.  At- 
tended  the   Sabbath  school  in   the  morning,   and 

preached  at  10:30  and  7:30. 

« 

Wednesday  night  preached  at  the  chapel,  North 
St.  Joseph,  also  Thursday  night.  Saturday  20th, 
went  to  Maryville.  Preached  Sabbath  morning. 
After  sermon  moderated  a  meeting  of  the  church 
of  Maryville  to  call  a  pastor.      Preached  at   night. 

Thursday,  December  25th.  Reached  Parkville 
in  good  time  for  Christmas  exercises  of  the  Sunday 
School.  They  pleased  every  one  in  attendance. 
These  services  did  much  to  uplift  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  to  its  former  good  standing.  Remained 
over  the  Sabbath.  Spent  the  last  days  of  the  year 
with  my  family.  The  year  had  been  one  of  hard 
work.     I    had  established   two  new  churches,    held 


Work  in  Missouri 


155 


special  services  in    several    churches,     and    visited 
numerous  fields. 

The  year  1874  was  ushered  in  on  a  remarkably 
pleasant  day,  which  I  spent  with  my  family.  Re- 
viewed the  past  year  and  laid  plans  for  the  opening 
one.  Saturday  went  down  to  Osborn  where  I  ex- 
pected to  preach  alternate  Sabbaths.  Preached 
morning  and  evening. 

On  Monday  we  held  a  prayer  meeeting  at  Oak 
Grove,  and  Tuesday  another  prayer  meeting  at  1 1 
A.  M.,  preaching  at  night.  One  lady  seemed  deeply 
impressed.  Spent  most  of  the  week  there.  Re- 
turned Friday  after  meeting.  Hopkins  having 
obtained  a  stated  supply,  divided  my  time,  alter- 
nating between  Osborn  and  Parkville.  Preached 
and  administered  the  Lord's  supper  at  Park- 
ville. Went  to  Osborn  on  the  17th.  Found  deep 
interest  in  religion,  and  Christians  united.  In  the 
evening  seventeen  came  forward  for  prayers.  A 
number  professed  hope  in  Christ.  On  Sabbath 
night  twenty  came  forward  for  prayers.  I  spent 
Monday  calling  from  house  to  house,  until  train 
time.  After  a  day  in  Parkville,  I  went  over  to 
Cameron  Mo.,  where  I  was  met  by  Brother  France 
who  conducted  me  to  the  church  where  I  found  a 
good  audience  at  the  commencement  of 
series  of  meetings.  The  first  sermon  was  from 
Malachi   3:1,      The     Lord     whom    ye     seek    shall 


a 


156  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

suddenly  come  to  His  temple.  The  Lord 
came  that  night.  Two  arose  for  prayer,  the 
next  night  three  more.  The  Comforter  filled  me 
with  joy  that  took  away  sleep.  I  sat  up  in  bed 
and  praised  God.  The  next  day  in  calling,  I 
found  the  Holy  Spirit  had  gone  before  us  in  the 
deep  distress  we  found  sinners  in.  We  continued 
these  special  services  for  ten  days  and  nights.  The 
fruits  were  twenty-seven  added  on  profession. 
Closing  with  reception  of  members  and  the  Lord's 
supper,  I  left  Cameron  for  Parkville.  Rev.  C. 
W.  Higgins  preached  for  me  this  morning.  The 
Sunday  School  scholars  acquitted  themselves  with 
honor  at  their  anniversary  exercises,  leaving  a  good 
impression.  February  loth.  Received  a  letter 
from  Trenton  asking  for  my  services  in  a  series  of 
meetings  in  the  Hodge  church  at  Trenton.  Left 
for  Trenton,  stopping  a  day  to  preach  at  Cameron. 
Two  came  into  the  church  making  twenty-nine. 
Spent  another  day  with  Brother  France,  preaching 
at  night.  Three  new  cases  of  deep  interest  were 
presented.      One  lady  decided  for  Christ. 

Left  Cameron  for  Trenton.  Preached  at  night. 
Spent  one  week  at  Trenton.  There  were  but  a 
few  who  entered  into  the  work.  One  lady  was 
converted  and  united  with  the  church.  Went  down 
to  Osborn  on  February  28th.  Preached  Sabbath 
morning  and  night.      At  the    night    services    Mrs. 


Work  in  Missouri  157 


Patrick  and  Cbas.    Bouton  came  forward  and  asked 
for  membership.      They  were  accepted. 

Tuesday  March  3do  Left  for  Lathrop  to  com- 
mence a  series  of  meetings.  Spent  all  the  week 
in  bringing  about  reconciliation  between  two  lead- 
ing families.  On  Tuesday,  I  attended  the  funeral 
of  George  Threlkeld,  at  Parkville,one  of  the  child- 
ren I  baptized  last  year. 

Preached  at  Osborn  on  Friday  and  Saturday 
nights.  Mr.  Duncan  McRae  and  wife,  and  Mrs. 
Boyd,  asked  for  membership. 

After  sermon  Sabbath  morning,  Mrs.  Patrick, 
Charles  Bouton,  Duncan  McRae,  Mrs.  McRae,  and 
Mrs.  Boyd  entered  into  covenant  with  the  church, 
and  were  enrolled  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Osborn.  The  Sacrament  of  the  supper 
was  then  served.  The  Rev.  J.  M.  Crawford 
preached  Thursday  and  Friday  nights  for  me  at 
Parkville.  Friday  Mrs.  Louisa  Dunbar  asked  for 
membership,  was  examined  and  received  by  the 
session.  On  Sabbath  after  sermon  Mrs.  Dunbar 
was  baptized,  entering  into  covenant  with  the 
church.  The  Lord's  table  was  spread  and  the 
supper  was  administered. 

Tuesday  March  24th,  was  spent  afMirable.  After 
a  sermon  I  moderated  a  church  meeting,  at  which 
a  formal  call  was  given  to  the  Rev.  George  A.  Mc- 
Kinlay  to  become  their  pastor.      On  Sabbath    the 


158  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

29th,  I  preached  and  administered  the  Lord's 
supper.  Made  ready  for  the  spring  meeting  of 
Presbytery  at  St.  Joseph.  Prepared  my  report  for 
Presbytery  of  work  done  as  Presbyterial  Mission- 
ary. Mr.  George  A.  McKinlay  asked  for  ordination, 
which  request  was  granted.  The  Presbytery  asked 
the  Board  of  Home  Missions  to  continue  my  com- 
mission as  their  missionary.  I  was  made  chairman 
of  a  commission  to  install  the  Rev.  Luther  Dodd 
pastor  of  Rockport  church,  and  to  organize  a 
church  at  Tarkio  in  Atchison  county;  also  to 
install  Rev.  George  A.  McKinlay  over  Mirabile 
church ;  and  to  organize  a  new  church  in  his  broad 
field,  if  the  way  opened. 

Saturday  April  12th.  Had  an  interview  with 
Miss  Ella  L.  Park  respecting  her  duty  to  confess 
Christ  before  the  world.  Preached  on  Sabbath 
morning  and  night.  After  sermon  Mr.  Lewis  Dun- 
bar and  Miss  Ella  L.  Park  came  forward  as  candi- 
dates for  membership.  They  were  examined  and 
received  by  the  sessfon.  Mr.  Dunbar  was  baptized. 
They  entered  into  covenant  with  the  church  and 
their  names  were  enrolled. 

Spent  my  sixty-fourth  birthday  at  home  with  my 
wife. 

Friday,  I  went  to  Parkville.  Gave  Saturday 
to  pastoral  work,  and  preached  on  Sabbath. 
Monday, had  a  long  talk  with  Mr.  Park  on  training 


Work  in  Missouri  159 


school  for  young  people  of  the  Missouri  valley. 
The  General  Assembly  met  in  St.  Louis  this  year 
immediately  after  the  State  Sunday  School  con- 
vention. I  attended  both  meetings  for  a  few  days, 
renewing  acquaintance  with  old  friends  and  hear- 
ing some  of  our  strong  men.  While  there  I  had  a 
very  satisiactory  interview  with  Dr.  Henry  Ken- 
dall,   of  our  Home  Mission  Board. 

During  the  next  week,  beginning  May  25th, 
with  the  Rev.  J.  H.  France,  I  visited  Mirabile  to 
install  the  Rev.  Geo.  A.  McKinlay.  It  fell  to  me 
to  preach,  propound  the  constitutional  questions 
and  deliver  the  charge  to  the  pastor.  Mr.  France 
delivered  the  charge  to  the  people.  We  went  home 
with  Brother  Lanford,  and  had  a  meeting  at  his 
house. 

Next  morning  we  went  to  Pleasant  Ridge  to  organ- 
ize a  new  church.  Rev.  France  preached  a  sermon. 
Ten  candidates  came  forward  and  asked  to  be  organ- 
zed  into  a  Presbyterian  church.  Nine  had  letters  of 
dismission,  one  young  lady  came  on  profession.  The 
letters  were  in  order.  The  ten  covenanted  with 
Almighty  God  and  with  each  other.  They  chose 
two  of  their  number  as  elders  who,  answering  the 
constitutional  questions,  were  then  set  apart  to  the 
eldership  by  prayer  and  the  laying  on  of  hands. 
They  took  the  name,  The  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Pleasant  Ridge.    I  spent  an   agreeable   night,    and 


i6o  ^ifiy  y^cirs  on  the  Skirfnish  Line 

left  May  26th  for  Cameron.  Princeton,  the  county 
seat  of  Mercer  county,  called  me,  and  I  spent  a 
day  canvassing  the  town.  Of  its  population  of 
1,000,  two  hundred  were  professing  Christians  of 
different  denominations.  I  preached  in  the  Metho- 
dist church  to  a  good  audience;  remained  one  Sab- 
bath and  preached  Monday  night.  Left  Princeton 
Tuesday  for  Mill  Grove,  west  some  ten  miles. 
Visited  there  twenty-nine  families.  Preached  at 
night  to  a  full  school  house,  and  did  what  1  could 
while  with  them.  Left  June  3d  for  home  after  one 
month's  absence. 

The  next  Sabbath  was  my  regular  day  at  Os- 
borne and  the  usual  two  sermons  were  preached. 
While  at  Parkville  on  the  following  Sabbath,  I 
learned  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Young,  whom  I  had 
received  into  the  church.  Mrs  Sweet  died  during 
my  stay  there,  and  I  preached  her  funeral  sermon. 

Thursday,  June  i8th,  the  commission  met 
to  install  Rev.  Luther  Dodd  over  the  church  of 
Rockport.  Rev.  McClung  preached  the  sermon. 
I  presided  and  proposed  the  constitutional  questions 
and  charged  the  pastor.  Rev.  Thomas  charged  the 
people.  Friday  June  19th  left  Rockport  for  the 
Valley  of  the  Tarkio  to  organize  a  Presbyterian 
church.  Saturday  afternoon  after  a  sermon  from 
John  I  5:  5, eight  members  appeared  with  letters  of 
dismission,  all  of  which  were  in  order,  and  accepted 


Work  in  Missouri  i6i 


b}^  the  committee.  They  then  entered  into  cove- 
nant with  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  and  one 
another,  by  which  they  constituted  themselves 
the  church  of  Tarkio.  They  chose  Mr.  Marquis 
elder,  who  answered  the  constitutional  questions. 
He  was  then  set  apart  to  the  office  of  ruling  elder  by 
prayer  and  laying  on  of  hands.  I  remained  in  the 
Valley  of  the  Tarkio  till  after  Sabbath  June  2ist, 
preaching  to  a  full  school  house.  A  Sabbath 
School  was  organized  and  put  into  working  order. 
Upon  my  return  to  St.  Joseph  I  found  my  grand- 
daughter sick,  who  died  Friday,  aged  eight 
months  and  fifteen  days. 

The  month  of  July  was  given  to  Osborne  and 
Parkville,  communion  service  being  held  in  each 
church.  Two  members  were  received  by  letter 
at  Osborne.  Three  children  were  baptized  at 
Parkville. 

Early  in  August  while  riding  a  mule,  near  Park- 
ville I  was  thrown,  but  was  preserved  in  safety  by 
the  care  of  my  Heavenly  Father.  On  one  of  the 
days  of  this  season  the  mercury  stood  at  io6  in  the 
shade. 

On  Thursday  August  13th  left  with  the  Rev. 
J.  W.  Allen,  D.  D.  for  Hopkins  to  explore  the 
northern  tier  of  counties  of  Platte  Presbytery:  to- 
wit,  Worth,  Harrison,  and  Mercer.  At  Grant 
City    began  the  exploration   and   we   found    some 


1 62  ^if^y  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

families  anxious  for  the  introduction  of  a  Presby- 
terian church.  No  one  among  them  seemed  fitted 
to  lead  such  an  enterprise.  We  remained  and 
looked  over  the  county.  We  found  a  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church,  six  miles  out  a  Methodist,  and 
a  Baptist  in  Grant  City.  Dr.  Allen  preached  for  the 
Cumberlands  and  I  occupied  the  Methodist  pulpit 
on  Sabbath.  Dr.  Allen  preached  at  the  Methodist 
church  at  night.  Monday,  we  left  Grant  City  for 
Union  Grove,  the  home  of  Rev.  Duncan  McRuer. 
Mr.  McRuer  then  proposed  that  we  should  go  to 
Denver,  Worth  county,  and  there  confer  together. 
We  did  so,  and  spent  the  day  there.  August  i8th. 
Drove  to  Martinsville,  Harrison  county.  Elder 
Wren  made  arrangements  for  preaching  that  even- 
ing, after  which,  the  session  of  the  church  met  to 
talk  up  our  object  in  visiting  them.  Dr.  Allen 
preached  at  night.  The  next  morning  Elder  Scott 
drove  us  to  Bethany.  We  had  a  warm  reception 
from  Banker  Crossan.  Held  a  good  meeting  at  the 
Methodist  church.  We  spent  the  next  day  in 
a  survey  of  Bethany  and  vicinity.  Dr.  Allen 
preached  at  night.  There  was  nothing  developed 
that  seemed  to  demand  a  church  at  Bethany  just 
then.  Dr.  Allen  left  for  Eagleville,  Akron,  thence 
to  St.  Louis.  I  remained  to  spend  Sabbath  at 
Bethany.  Preached  on  the  sacraments  of  our 
church  in  the  morning,  and  at  night  on  the  mission 


Wor/c  in  Missouri  163 


of  Christ.  Left  Monday  for  Eagleville;  found 
only  one  Presbyterian  family  there,  but  preached  at 
night.  Left  for  Goshen,  Mercer  county.  Preached 
to  impromptu  congregation.  Next  day  left  for 
Princeton,  county  seat  of  Mercer  county.  Made  ar- 
rangements for  Sabbath  service,  and  went  on  to 
Ravenna  ten  miles  east.  Found  encouragement 
there    for    a    church    in    and    around    that   town. 

After  a  visit  to  Lineville,  a  town  on  the  boun- 
dary between  Missouri  and  Iowa,  where  a  church 
had  just  been  organized,  I  returned  to  Princeton 
for  Sabbath.  The  request  was  made  that  Presby- 
tery make  this  one  of  our  preaching  points. 

Monday,  left  for  Spankersville  where  I  spent  the 
day  in  visiting  a  godless  community.      Preached  at 
night  to  them  on  the  need  of  the  gospel  to  save  the 
soul,  correct  their  morals,  and  improve  their    per- 
sonal appearance.      Left  Spankersville  for  Trenton 
where  Presbytery  was  to  meet  on  the  first  Tuesday 
of  September,  at  7:  30.      Presbytery  met  at  the  time 
appointed.      In  absence  of   the    moderator,     I  was 
called  to   the  chair     called    Presbytery    to   order. 
Rev.  J.    Gillespie    preached    the  opening  sermon, 
after  which  he  was  chosen   moderator,  and  E.    B. 
Sherwood  clerk.      Wednesday  made  reports  on  ,the 
installation  of  Rev.  George  A.  McKinlay  over  Mir- 
abile  and  Lincoln  churches,  and  Rev.  Luther  Dodd 
over  Rockport  church,   and  the  organization  of  the 


164  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir?nish  Line 

churches  of  Pleasant  Ridge  and  Tarkio.  Took  part 
in  the  examination  of  Mr.  H.  G.  Pollock  for  ordi- 
nation to  the  gospel  ministry;  and  gave  *him  his 
charge.  Also  made  report  of  the  visit  to  the 
counties  of  Worth,  Harrison  and  Mercer,  of  Dr.  J. 
W.  Allen  and  myself. 

Friday  September  4th.  Left  Trenton.  Met 
Rev.  J.  H.  France  at  Cameron,  and  spent  the 
night  with  him  before  going  to  Osborn.  September 
6th  preached  twice  at  Osborn.  Reached  home  Mon- 
day to  find  an  accumulation  work  during  of  four 
weeks  absence  to  attend  to.  Tuesday,  September 
loth,  married  at  my  residence  Mr.  William  H. 
Boyer  to  Miss  Maggie  Myer,  all  of  Marion  town- 
ship, Buchanan  county,  Mo.  Attended  the  funeral 
of  Anna  Brockman  of  Sabbath  School,  at  1 1  A.  M. 
Dropped  into  the  Methodist  conference  (South). 
Witnessed,  with  interest,  their  manner  of  re- 
ceiv^ing  candidates  for  the  ministry.  Heard  them 
pass  on  the  character  of  their  ministers.  Listened 
to  a  good  sermon  from  their  Bishop.  Attended 
their  conference  Friday  and  Saturday.  Sabbath, 
9  o'clock,  attended  their  love  feast.  Heard  their 
Bishop  again.  After  sermon  he  ordained  eleven 
deacons.  In  the  afternoon  their  colored  Bishop 
preached  a  powerful  sermon,  and  gave  a  statement 
of  his  work.  Bishop  Marvin  preached  at  night  and 
ordained  nine  elders.     September  22nd.      Left  for 


Work  jn  Missouri  165 


Mirabile.  Spent  the  week  preaching  two  sermons  a 
day  until  Saturday.  Parkville  had  claims  upon  me 
for  Sabbath  morning  and  night.  Thursday,  Octo- 
ber 1st.  Went  to  Osborn.  Spent  the  time  until 
Saturday  calling  in  the  country.  Found  eight 
persons  who  had  been  members  of  Presbyterian 
churches.  Three  of  these  wished  to  become  mem- 
bers at  Osborn.  Saturday  held  preparatory  meet- 
ing. Heard  good  news  of  the  Mirabile  work.  Sab- 
bath preached  and  administered  the  sacrament. 
Friday,  October  7th,  served  at  Parkville.  On  8th 
at  Mrs.  Moore's.  On  Saturday, lecture  at  2  P.  M. 
Held  a  meeting  at  Mr.  Frazier's  at  night.  Sunday 
preached  and  administered  the  sacrament.  Left 
for  Kirksville  to  attend  the  meeting  of  Synod. 
Reached  there  in  time  to  attend  the  Sabbath 
School  institute.  Found  at  Kirksville  an  old  Pitcher 
acquaintance,  Mr.  John  Smith  Blackman.  I  was 
appointed  chairman  of  the  judicial  committee, 
also  to  open  the  discussion  on  home  missions.  Fri- 
day night  stopped  with  Brother  Blackman. 

Tuesday,  October  20th.  Left  Kirksville  for 
Princeton.  Stopped  at  Lineville  a  day  and  night 
for  a  rest.  Reached  Princeton  and  preached  at 
night.  Left  next  day  for  Bethany;  found  an  ap- 
pointment out  for  me.  Preached  from  Ex.  12:20. 
Death  in  every  house.  Visited  young  Hamilton 
in  jail  who  was  to  be  hung   the   following   Friday. 


1 66  Fifty  Years  oti  the  Skirmish  Line 


Remained  over  the  Sabbath.  Preached  morning 
and  evening.  Left  Bethany  for  King  City  and 
neighboring  churches.  Held  service  at  Union 
church,  King  City.  Went  to  DeKalb  county  for 
the  purpose  of  exploring  the  northern  portion. 
Found  a  number  of  Presbyterian  families.  They 
w^ere  too  far  apart  to  associate  in  our  church. 
Three  persons  united  with  the  Osborn  church  at 
my  next  meeting  there.  After  my  next  visit  to 
Parkville,  I  went  on  to  Kansas  City  and  met  Dr. 
Hill,  who  asked  me  to  go  to  Armstrong,  one  mile  in 
Kansas  from  the  state  line,  and  see  if  I  could  gather 
a  church.  With  Rev.  D.  C.  Milner  I  went,  and 
left  an  appointment  for  further  preaching.  The 
visit  included  Wyandotte  and  Kansas  City,  Kansas, 
where  appointments  were  left.  At  home  I  found 
a  request  for  me  to  go  to  Oregon  and  help  in  a 
meeting  I  went  and  spent  three  days  with  Brother 
McClung,  preaching  twice  a  day. 

About  the  middle  of  December,  Dr.  Hill  again 
earnestly  urged  me  to  make  a  moral  survey  of 
Armstrong  and  Wyandotte,  both  in  Kansas  near 
Kansas  City.  I  did  so,  and  found  encouragement 
to  preach  in  both  places  on  the  third  Sabbath  of 
the  month.  December  22nd  I  was  called  to  Park- 
ville to  solemnize  the  marriage  of  the  Rev.  C.  W. 
Higgins  and  Miss  Mary  Frazier.  Christmas  day 
was  spent  at  my  own  home  in   St.  Joseph,  and  the 


lVo?'k  in  A'lissotiri  167 


last  days  of  the  year  were  given  to  Oak  Grove. 

In  a  review  of  the  year,  I  find  great  reason  for 
gratitude  to  my  heavenly  Father  for  the  health  and 
strength  He  has  vouchsafed  to  me  that  I  might  do 
the  year's  work.  I  give  thanks  to  my  Savior  for 
His  presence,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost  for  the  great 
peace  that  He  has  shed  abroad  in  my  heart  and 
the  comfort  He  has  given  me  in  my  work.  The 
year,  from  its  opening  to  its  close,  has  been  rich  in 
spiritual  blessings,  in  the  conversion  of  souls  and 
in  additions  to  the  churches  I  have  served  and  to 
those  in  which  I  have  aided  my  brethren.  The 
churches  I  have  organized  have  been  richly  blessed. 
Opportunities  for  doing  good  have  been  frequent. 

1875.  Most  of  New  Year's  day  was  spent  with 
my  family.  In  the  afternoon,  however,  I  left  for 
Osborn  to  hold  communion  the  following  Sabbath. 
Until  June,  I  continued  to  supply  Osborn  and  Arm- 
strong, Kansas,  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  The  work 
at  the  latter  place  was  largely  preparatory  to  church 
organization. 

During  the  first  week  in  February,  the  Rev.  A. 
B  Earle,  a  Baptist  evangelist,  held  a  series  of 
meetings  at  St.  Joseph,  which  was  crowned  with 
rich  and  precious  results.  He  reached  our  leading 
business  men.  He  had  peculiar  power  with  that 
class  of  men,  because  the  Holy  Ghost  rested  upon 
him  and  abode  with  him.      He  did  me  great   good. 


1 68  Fifty   Years  on  the  Skirmish  Li?7e 

Near  the  middle  of  March,  the  Rev  T.  E.  Shel- 
don sent  me  an  urgent  invitation  to  come  to  his 
help  in  a  series  of  meetings  at  Marysville,  Kansas. 
I  accepted  it  and  preached  my  first  sermon  there 
from  Acts  10:29,  "I  ask  therefore  for  what  intent 
ye  have  sent  for  me."  On  my  second  Sabbath  there, 
ten  persons  were  received  at  the  morning  service. 
Sabbath  evening  four  new  cases  came  out  under 
the  sermon.  Monday  evening  one  of  the  merchants 
was  so  wrought  upon  that  he  did  not  leave  his  seat 
when  the  congregation  went  out ;  before  he  left  the 
church,  he  gave  his  heart  to  Christ.  Several 
others  were  brought  to  conviction  and  conversion 
during  the  meetings,  and  the  influence  was  lasting. 

March  26th,  27th  and  29th  were  spent  in  Park- 
villa  in  interviews  concerning  the  opening  there  of 
a  school  for  training  Christian  workers.  Mr.  Park 
and  Professor  McAfee  were  both  there  at  that  time. 

The  Armstrong  work  had  so  prospered  that  it 
seemed  wise  to  organize  a  church  there  March  28th. 
Dr.  Hill  came  from  Kansas  City.  It  was  Easter 
Sabbath,  and  he  preached  an  appropriate  sermon 
in  the  morning,  while  I  preached  in  the  evening. 
At  3  p.  m.  we  met  and  organized  the  church  with 
nine  members.  W.  W.  Spear  was  chosen  elder 
and  ordained  and  installed.  Before  I  left  the 
church  in  June  there  were  several  additions  and 
another  elder,  Brother  Robinson,  was  installed. 


Work  in  Missouri  169 


May  2nd  I  attended  the  Westminister  church, 
St.  Joseph,  and  baptized  my  grandson,  Charles 
Sherwood  Taylor,  and  the  oldest  son  of  Dr.  Bul- 
lard,  Henry  Nelson  Bullard.  I  gave  what  spare 
time  I  had  during  these  months  to  the  mission 
chapel. 

Meanwhile  I  had  been  asked  to  undertake  an 
agency  in  the  East  for  the  new  college  at  Parkville. 
A  visit  had  already  been  made  there  during  which 
I  had  been  pleased  with  the  manner  and  spirit  of 
the  devotional  service.  On  the  8th  of  June  I  left 
for  the  East  and  spent  until  the  end  of  September 
canvassing  in  the  state  of  New  York  in  behalf  of 
the  college. 

I  had  been  made  trustee  of  my  father's  estate 
and  while  I  was  in  the  East  in  October  I  went  to 
Rochester,  N.  Y. ,  and  began  arrangements  looking 
toward  the  winding  up  of  his  affairs.  This  involved 
delay  and  the  Lord  opened  a  door  of  usefulness. 
I  was  invited  to  visit  Pentield,  six  miles  from 
Rochester,  and  see  what  could  be  done  toward 
bringing  back  life  to  a  church  which  had  been  in 
a  state  of  suspended  animation  for  six  years  and 
without  a  revival  for  eighteen  years.  Animation 
was  restored  in  four  weeks'  labor,  with  preaching 
and  visiting.  The  session  and  board  of  trustees 
were  filled  by  election.  The  sacraments  were 
administered  to  twenty-five  members. 


lyo  Fifiy  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

Upon  my  return  to  St.  Joseph  in  November  I 
had  hardly  got  well  settled  when  a  request  came 
for  help  in  meetings  at  Frankfort,  Kansas.  I  found 
there  a  half-finished  meeting-house,  which  could 
not  be  made  comfortable  during  the  cold  weather 
which  came  on.  The  meetings  continued  eleven 
days  and  the  church  was  revived.  Six  members 
were  received.  At  Osborn  soon  after  I  found  the 
Methodists  engaged  in  revival  effort,  and  took  part 
with  them.     The  results  were  excellent. 

In  response  to  an  appointment  by  the  Presbytery, 
I  went  to  Trenton  to  assist  in  dedicating  their  new 
church  and  installing  their  pastor.  Saturday  night 
the  new  church  took  fire  and  was  completely  de- 
stroyed! The  other  denominations  of  the  city 
threw  open  their  pulpits  the  next  day  to  the  com- 
mission and  $950  were  raised  at  the  morning  services 
for  a  new  building.  A  union  meeting  was  held  in 
the  opera  house  in  the  evening  and  $600  more 
raised,  making  $1550  in  all.  I  spent  three  days 
more  with  the  church.  Rev.  J,  M.  Crawford  was 
the  new  pastor. 

The  closing  days  of  the  year  were  spent  in  look- 
ing back  over  its  record.  It  was  one  of  the  hap- 
piest in  my  life.  The  desire  of  my  heart  had  been 
realized.  We  had  seen  the  humble  beginning  of 
Park  College  for  Training  Christian  Workers. 

1876.    Early  in  January  I  accepted  an  invitation 


Wo7'k  in  Missouri  171 


from  the  church  at  Marysville,  Kansas,  to  come  to 
them  and  stay  as  long  as  possible.  I  remained 
three  months,  entered  upon  a  systematic  course  of 
ministerial  work,  preaching,  visiting  and  holding 
prayer^meetings,  and  besides  looked  after  an  out- 
post at  North  Marysville,  where  steps  had  already 
been  taken  toward  a  church  organization.  I  per- 
fected that  work  and  laid  foundations  for  still 
another  church,  at  Deer  Creek,  six  miles  west. 
The  word  of  God  took  effect,  and  gave  the  people 
a  mind  to  work.  Congregations  increased.  Con- 
verts came  into  the  church.  We  had  a  profitable 
three  months.  I  left  after  the  last  Sabbath  in 
March  to  meet  an  engagement  to  spend  a  year  in 
Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  gathering  a  congregation  in 
the  north  part  of  that  city.  There  was  one  item 
of  the  business  of  my  father's  estate  that  demanded 
my  presence  in  New  York  early  in  April.  After 
attending  to  it,  I  returned  to  Kalamazoo  and 
entered  on  the  work  I  was  called  there  to  do.  The 
details  and  results  are  found  in  Chapter  V. 

I  closed  my  year's  work  in  Kalamazoo  on  the 
8th  of  April,  1877,  and  at  once  went  with  my  wife 
to  my  daughter's  home  at  Berrien  Springs,  Michi- 
gan. On  reaching  there  we  learned  of  the  serious 
illness  of  Judge  Anderson,  my  daughter's  father- 
in-law.  We  were  sent  for  to  hasten  to  his  bed- 
side, but  before  we  reached  it   he   was   gone.      At 


172  ^tfiy  y^ci^s  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

his  request,  I  preached  the  funeral  sermon.  It  was 
my  67th  birthday.  I  had  known  the  judge  and  his 
wife  since  1828. 

From  this  time  until  July  5th,  my  time  was 
divided  between  the  settlement  of  the  estate  and 
collecting  funds  for  Park  College  in  western  New 
York  where  I  was  acquainted.  After  an  absence 
of  a  year  and  three  months  I  finally  reached  St. 
Joseph  with  my  wife  on  the  20th  of  July.  I  met 
Professor  McAfee  and  reported  what  I  had  done, 
turning  over  to  him  the  money  I  had  collected. 
We  conferred  about  future  plans. 

The  Synod  of  Missouri  met  that  year  in  October 
at  St.  Charles.  I  was  in  attendance  and  was  very 
unexpectedly  chosen  moderator  by  acclamation. 
I  met  the  responsibilities  of  the  position  as  best  I 
could.  The  remainder  of  the  year  was  devoted  to 
work  connected  with  Park  College. 

1878.  January  ist'I  spent  with  my  family  and 
newly  consecrated  myself  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry. Calls  came  from  every  side.  I  went  first  to 
the  Third  church  of  Kansas  City  and  assisted  the 
pastor  for  a  week  in  a  series  of  meetings.  Then 
came  such  a  request  from  the  Chillicothe  pastor 
that  I  went  to  his  aid  for  about  two  weeks.  Eight 
confessed  Christ  at  the  closing  meeting.  There 
was  a  precious  refreshing  from  on  high.  On  the 
26th  I  went  to  Hiawatha,    Kansas,  to   assist    Rev. 


Work  in  Missouri  173 


Mr.  Farmer  in  a  series  of  meetings.  Deep  interest 
was  awakened.  Twenty  arose  for  prayers.  We 
reached  an  interesting  class  of  young  men  who 
became  pillars  in  that  church.  On  the  6th  of 
February  I  was  compelled  to  leave  to  meet  an  en- 
gagement for  other  work.  I  had  been  asked  to 
Kennekuk,  an  Indian  town  eight  miles  south  of 
Hiawatha.  The  church  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Todd.  My  first  sermon  seemed  to  be  sanctified  to 
the  congregation.  Under  the  third  sermon  a  young 
lady  gave  herself  to  Christ.  Every  sermon  seemed 
to  deepen  the  work  of  grace  begun.  Heads  of 
families  were  reached;  husbands  of  believing  wives 
and  wives  of  believing  husbands  came  out  and  took 
upon  them  the  covenant  of  the  church.  The 
windows  of  heaven  were  opened;  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  poured  out  on  all  classes.  The  revival  be- 
came general.  Family  altars  were  set  up  and  con- 
secrated by  morning  and  evening  prayer.  The 
church  was  strengthened  by  the  addition  of  whole 
families.  When  they  laid  out  the  Rock  Island  R. 
R. ,  they  ran  it  through  the  farms  of  the  leading 
members  of  that  church,  and  the  town  of  Horton 
covers  almost  the  entire  farm  of  one  of  the  members 
with  whom  I  stopped  often  during  the  three  weeks 
I  spent  here.  The  church  of  Horton  is  the  old 
church  of  Kennekuk.  This  meeting  laid  the 
foundation  for  lasting  good  to  all  that  region. 


174  ^^Py  yccif's  071  the  Skirmish  Line 

About  the  ist  of  March,  I  received  abetter  from 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Allen,  Synodical  missionary, 
requesting  me  to  go  to  Glenwood,  Schuyler  county, 
in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state,  and  there  work 
up  and  organize  a  Presbyterian  church,  if  the  way 
was  clear.  Accordingly  I  spent  sixteen  days  of 
hard  work  there,  and  on  March  31st  organized  a 
church  of  twelve  members,  ordaining  two  elders, 
and  administering  the  Lord's  supper.  The  evening 
of  the  first  Sabbath  two  mora  united  with  the  new 
church.  My  friend  Dr.  Galbraith  met  me  on  my 
arrival  and  cared  for  me  pleasantly  during  my  stay. 
Immediately  I  left  for  Kirksville  where  I  had  an 
appointment  to  preach  on  the  importance  of  raising 
up  a  ministry  from  our  churches.  I  reached  home 
April  3d. 

The  spring  meeting  of  Platte  Presbytery  was 
held  at  Mound  City.  As  committee  on  the  narrative 
I  reported  on  the  state  of  religion  in  our  bounds. 
I  was  also  appointed  to  organize  a  church  at  Mt. 
Salem  school-house  in  Atchison  county,  which 
duty  I  performed  on  Sabbath  the  14th  before 
turning  home.  The  church  took  the  name  Pizgah. 
I  left  for  home  on  my  68th  birthday. 

I  had  now  reached  a  point  where  I  thought  it 
my  duty  to  lay  off  for  some  repairs.  An  experi- 
enced dentist  advised  me  to  have  several  native 
teeth  removed  and  get  a  full  set    of    upper   teeth. 


Work  in  Missouri  175 


This  would  forbid  my  public  speaking  for  several 
weeks.  Duty  demanded  it  and  I  rested  off  during 
the  remainder  of  April  and  all  of  May  and  June. 
During  these  months,  I  was  with  my  son  in  his 
drug-store.  In  looking  over  his  stock,  I  discovered 
there  had  accumulated  a  good  many  articles  not 
wanted  in  St.  Joseph  but  saleable  in  some  other 
place.  This,  with  some  other  motives,  led  my  son 
to  look  for  a  new  point.  He  found  one  at  Sabetha, 
Kansas,  and  opened  his  new  store  there  late  in 
August,  1878.  The  St.  Joseph  store  was  left  with 
his  clerk  whom  he  had  been  training  for  five  years, 
the  finances  being  under  my  oversight  and  control. 
My  son  reached  Sabetha  at  the  right  time.  Two 
years  later  we  sold  the  St.  Joseph  stock  and  rented 
the  store  to  the  former  clerk,  Mr.  James  T.  Mead- 
ows, who  has  become  one  of  the  leading  druggists 
of  this  growing  city.  In  addition  to  the  drug 
business,  my  son  had  developed  Sherwood's  Ex- 
celsior Liquid  Blueing,  which  he  had  been  making 
for  some  ten  years.  It  had  grown  to  so  much  im- 
portance that  it  was  becoming  a  good  thing,  too 
good  to  give  up.  This  business  he  passed  over  to 
me.  I  have  cared  for  it  and  superintended  it  until 
it  has  become  the  standard  liquid  blueing  wherever 
St.  Joseph  wholesale  grocery  trade  goes.  This 
and  the  rent  of  the  store  have  been  my  support 
since  August  1878.      I  have  held    myself  ready    to 


176  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir7?tish  Line 

supply  destitute  churches,  organize  new  churches, 
assist  my  brethren  in  special  meetings  where  open- 
ings have  occurred  and  duty  called,  and  to  do  any 
duty  that  was  in  the  line  of  my  profession  as  a 
minister  of  Christ.  For  a  number  of  years  I  was 
stated  clerk  and  treasurer  of  my  Presbytery. 

In  September  of  this  year  (1878)  I  received  a 
letter  from  the  church  of  Hiawatha,  Kansas,  asking 
me  to  visit  them  and  supply  them  as  long  as  there 
was  mutual  satisfaction.  After  preaching  there 
one  Sabbath  an  agreement  was  entered  into  and  I 
supplied  them  twenty-eight  weeks.  My  plan  was 
to  go  on  Saturday,  preach  on  Sabbath  and  teach  a 
Sabbath  School  class.  At  communion  times  I  went 
over  on  Friday  and  visited  and  held  preparatory 
service  on  Saturday.  God  blessed  this  arrangement. 
Eighteen  members  were  added  to  the  church,  sev- 
eral being  newly  converted.  Confidence  was  in- 
spired. They  soon  called  a  pastor.  From  that 
time  they  have  gone  right  forward,  enlarged  their 
meeting  house,  lengthened  their  cords  and  strength- 
ened their  stakes.  Hiawatha  now  has  a  member- 
ship of  250.  The  weeks  spent  there  were  happy 
ones  to  me  and  began  a  new  epoch  in  the  church's 
history. 

At  the  meeting  of  Platte  Presbytery  in  April 
1879,  I  was  chosen  moderator  at  the  opening. 
During    the    meeting    I    was    appointed    alternatQ 


Work  m  Missouri  177 


commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  Stated 
Clerk  and  Treasurer  of  the  Presbytery.  These 
ofBces,  with  the  presidency  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  Park  College,  and  an  occasional  call  to  organize 
churches,  gave  me  all  I  could  well  attend  to  of  a 
public  nature.  Add  the  private  business  and  the 
care  of  my  family,  and  the  year  1879  was  filled 
with  hard  work. 

November  20th,  1880,  I  organized  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Goshen,  Mercer  county.  Mo. 

1 88 1.  On  the  29th  of  January  I  assisted  in  the 
dedication  of  the  new  Presbyterian  church  at  La- 
clede, Mo.  I  preached  twice  and  raised  $223  from 
the  congregation  so  that  we  dedicated  the  building 
free  from  debt.  March  i6th,  I  received  a  telegram 
asking  me  to  go  to  Ravennah,  Mercer  county,  and 
organize  a  Presbyterian  church.  This  town  is  in 
the  extreme  north-eastern  part  of  Platte  Presby- 
tery. It  meant  a  journey  of  130  miles,  ten  of 
which  I  traveled  on  horseback  in  a  snow-storm. 
Saturday  night  I  preached  to  quite  a  good  audience 
and  arranged  for  the  organization.  The  next  day, 
Sabbath,  a  church  of  thirteen  members  was  organ- 
ized, one  of  whom  was  received  by  profession  and 
baptism.  Two  elders  were  ordained  and  installed 
and  the  sacrament  was  administered.  In  the 
evening  after  the  sermon,  the  mother  who  had  been 
baptized  in  the  morping  brought  her  daughter  for 
baptism. 


178  ^ifh'  y^<^'>'s  on  the  Skirtnish  Line 

On  the  14th  of  April  Platte  Presbytery  met  in 
St.  Joseph  at  Dr.  Bullard's  church.  I  reported  the 
three  new  churches  organized.  On  my  71st  birth- 
day I  was  chosen  commissioner  to  the  General 
Assembly  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  with  elder  Robert 
Montgomery  as  lay  commissioner.  We  started  for 
Buffalo,  accompanied  by  our  wives,  May  i6th,  and 
reached  there  with  many  others  on  the  i8th.  The 
Assembly  met  on  Thursday  May  19.  On  the 
election  of  moderator,  I  was  privileged  to  second 
the  nomination  of  Dr.  Henry  Darling,  a  life  long 
friend.  The  short  speech  brought  me  many  hand- 
some compliments.  For  the  second  time  I  was 
made  a  member  of  the  judicial  committee.  On 
Saturday  the  Assembly  was  given  an  excursion  to 
Niagara  Falls.  The  next  week  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Chester  gave  us  a  reception  at  their  elegant  resi- 
dence. Mrs.  Chester  was  an  old  friend  of  our 
family  and  we  had  a  pleasant  half  hour  together. 
I  had  an  apportunity  to  speak  in  the  devotional 
meeting  of  Saturday  morning  and  also  reported  on 
the  records  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky.  I  was 
appointed  to  preach  at  Millville,  my  old  home, 
forty  miles  from  Buffalo  on  Sabbath  the  29th.  My 
brother  Guy  came  up  from  Millville  to  escort  me 
home.  I  preached  from  John  12:23,  "What  is  to  be 
the  result  of  lifting  up  Christ  on  the  cross.?"  I  did 
not  return  to  the  Assembly,  which   adjourned    the 


Work  in  Missouri  179 


following  day.  Instead  I  met  a  large  circle  of  old 
friends  at  my  brother-in-law's  home,  where  my 
wife  was  visiting.  It  was  her  last  visit  with  them. 
Tuesday  with  brother  Guy  and  his  wife  we  went 
to  Rochester  and  spent  a  day  with  my  sister,  Mary 
Hatch.  Thence  we  came  west  to  Michigan  where 
a  visit  was  made  to  our  children  at  Berrien  Springs. 
This  is  not  far  from  Cassopolis  and  Edwardsburgh. 
I  spent  one  Sabbath  with  these  churches,  preach- 
ing before  a  large  union  congregation  at  the  latter 
place  in  the  evening  and  at  the  former  place  in  the 
morning.  It  was  a  cordial  greeting  of  all  the 
churches  after  an  absence  of  twenty-two  years. 

I  had  scarcely  reached  home  in  St.  Joseph  before 
a  call  came  for  a  visit  to  Wheeling.  I  spent  a 
Sabbath  with  them.  On  the  9th  of  October,  I 
organized  the  church  of  Grant  City,  Worth  county, 
and  set  over  them  an  efficient  session.  They  have 
had  a  steady  growth  and  are  one  of  our  better 
churches.  December  2nd  I  accepted  an  invitation 
to  hold  a  series  of  meetings  at  Akron,  Harrison 
county.  The  meetings  lasted  ten  days.  The 
fruits  were  eleven  added  to  the  church,  with  seven 
baptisms.  Three  others  expressed  hope  and  were 
received  at  a  chance  visit  I  made  some  time  after- 
ward. 

On  March  19th,  1882,  in  company  with  elder 
Robert  Montgomery,    I   organized    the    church   of 


l8o  Fifty  Years  07t  the  Skirmish  Line 

Fairfax,  Mo.,  with  twelve  members.  Two  elders 
were  duly  chosen  and  set  apart.  July  ist,  I  was 
called  to  a  conference  with  the  Platte  Cit)^  church 
and  spent  a  Sabbath  there.  August  nth,  I  left 
for  Blysdale,  Harrison  county,  to  dedicate  a  new 
church,  but  found  on  my  arrival  that  it  was  not 
ready.  During  the  delay  I  went  to  Akron  and 
spent  a  week,  preaching  every  night.  Six  were 
received  into  membership  and  the  Lord's  supper 
was  administered.  At  Blysdale  the  next  Sabbath 
I  met  Rev.  Thomas  Marshall,  then  Synodical  mis- 
sionary, who  preached  in  the  morning.  I  under- 
took the  work  of  raising  the  arrears  and  we  dedi- 
cated the  building  free  from  debt.  Children  were 
baptized  by  Mr.  Marshall,  and  the  Lord's  supper 
was  administered. 

Saturday,  August  26th,  a  telegram  came  from 
the  pastor  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  asking  me  to  sup- 
ply his  pulpit  the  next  day.  I  did  so  and  again 
the  following  Sabbath.  In  September  a  week  was 
spent  at  Avalon  in  a  series  of  meetings.  The 
Lord  gave  us  eight  converts.  The  pastor  and 
three  of  his  session  were  permitted  to  welcome 
their  children  at  the  communion  service  held  at 
the  close  of  the  meeting.  Soon  after  my  return  to 
St.  Joseph,  I  left  for  Union  Star  to  organize  a 
church  if  the  way  was  clear.  After  the  evening 
sermon  sixteen  candidates  came,  asking  the  organ- 


Work  in  Missouri  i8i 

ization  of  a  Presbyterian  church.  Their  credentials 
were  found  in  order,  and  they  entered  into  cove- 
nant with  Almighty  God  and  each  other.  They 
chose  Judge  Dougherty  elder  and  the  following 
Sabbath,  October  ist,  he  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled. Meantime  I  had  been  calling  from  house 
to  house,  and  one  lady  came  to  unite  with  the 
new  church  on  confession  on  this  first  Sabbath. 
Several  received  the  sacrament  for  the  first  time. 
During  the  same  month,  October,  I  organized  the 
church  at  Brooklyn,  Carroll  county,  which  has 
since  been  merged  into  the  Tina  church  in  the 
same  county. 

About  the  first  of  October  my  wife  began  to 
suffer  from  inflammation  of  the  stomach.  The 
usual  treatment  in  such  cases  failing,  a  galvanic 
battery  was  ordered  and  purchased  while  I  was  in 
St.  Louis  at  the  Synod.  When  I  returned  she 
had  reached  the  stage  in  which  no  nourishment 
except  new  milk  coud  be  taken  with  any  comfort. 
The  battery  treatment  seemed  to  impart  vitality, 
but  she  gained  no  permanent  strength.  The  func- 
tions of  life  were  steadily  failing.  There  was  noth- 
ing alarming  in  her  case  and  nothing  encouraging. 
Nothing  we  could  do  imparted  strength  or  recuper- 
ated nature.  Our  daughter  came  from  Michigan 
and  spent  two  weeks  with  her,  which  greatly  com- 
forted her.      She    stood    the    parting    scene    much 


1 82  Fifty  Yean  on  the  Skirmish  Lifie 

better  than  I  had  expected.  In  the  latter  part  of 
November  symptoms  of  unhappy  changes  in  her 
system  appeared.  November  26th  was  her  last 
Sabbath  on  earth  and  she  was  cheerful,  enjoyed 
reading  and  conversed  throughout  the  day.  Dur- 
ing the  night  of  December  ist,  she  awoke  with 
excruciating  pains,  which  proved  to  be  the  premo- 
nition of  death.  She  was  very  restless  and  while 
we  were  trying  to  give  her  an  easier  position  she 
fainted  and  it  was  some  time  before  consciousness 
returned.  All  that  day  she  was  in  the  agonies  of 
death.  She  said  to  me,  "My  husband,  what  is 
this?"  I  answered  her,  "It  is  approaching  death. 
These  are  dying  agonies  and  you  will  spend  the 
coming  Sabbath  with  your  father,  mother,  your 
dear  sister  Margaret  and  our  dear  children  in  the 
spirit  world."  She  then  asked  us  to  sing  and 
while  we  were  singing,  "Jesus,  Lover  of  My  Soul," 
she  sank  into  a  quiet  state  in  which  she  remained 
and  sweetly  passed  away  before  the  midnight  hour, 
December  2nd,  1882,  aged  72  years  and  three 
months.  On  Monday  December  4th,  her  funeral 
was  attended  by  her  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Bul- 
lard,  assisted  by  Rev.  Dr.  R.  S.  Cam.pbell  and 
Rev,  George  Miller.  There  was  a  large  gathering 
of  friends.  We  laid  her  to  rest  in  Mt.  Mora  cem- 
etery in  a  lot  which  I  had  purchased.  Upon  her 
monument     are     inscribed     the    names     of     our 


tVork  in  Missouri  183 


six     children     besides     those     of    their     parents. 

The  following  Sabbath  I  spent  in  Parkville, 
preaching  to  a  large  and  interesting  audience. 
Upon  my  return  I  found  an  invitation  from  Tarkio 
which  I  accepted,  preaching  to  them  on  the  last 
Sabbath  of  the  year.  They  supplemented  their 
request  with  another,  viz.,  that  I  would  supply 
them  on  alternate  Sabbaths  until  spring.  West- 
boro,  six  miles  north  of  Tarkio,  whose  organization 
was  not  complete,  asked  for  the  other  alternate 
Sabbaths  of  my  time,  and  I  accepted  both  invita- 
tions. I  perfected  the  latter  organization  and 
gathered  in  the  families  through  that  region.  I  had 
organized  the  Tarkio  church  some  years  before  in 
the  valley  of  the  Tarkio.  When  the  Burlington 
R.  R.  system  run  one  of  its  branches  through 
Atchison  county,  Tarkio  sprang  up  as  a  business 
point  and  the  church  was  removed  there,  built  a 
house,  but  had  no  minister  at  that  time.  I  re- 
mained with  them  throughout  March.  Twelve 
members  were  added  as  the  fruits  of  these  three 
months.  They  soon  called  a  pastor  and  have 
gone  forward  with  steady  growth.  Another  matter 
of  great  importance  was  the  stirring  up  of  the 
United  Presbyterians  to  start  a  college  in  a  build- 
ing then  unoccupied  in  the  village. 

On  the  I  St  of  July  this  year,  occurred  the  semi- 
centennial   of   Oberlin    College    from   whose   the- 


184  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir??iish  Line 

ological  department  I  had  graduated  in  September, 
1836.      I  felt  it  a  privilege  and  duty  to  be  present 
at  the  celebration.      I  reached  Oberlin  June    30th, 
in  time  for  the  graduation  of  the  theological  class. 
After  dinner  I  attended  the  alumni  meeting  of  that 
department.     The  next  day  was  Sabbath  and  was 
full  of  interest.      The  history  of  the  Sabbath  school 
for  the  past  fifty  years  was  given  in   the   morning, 
followed   by   the   baccalaureate  sermon  giving  the 
history  of  the  college.      At  2  p.m.  was   an    experi- 
ence meeting   and   at    3    communion   service   with 
fully     200   communicants.       At     night    Rev.     Dr. 
Streiby  of  New  York  addressed  a  missionary  meet- 
ing.     On  Monday  those  present  of  the  class  of  1836 
met.      There  were   but   four.      The   same  number 
were  present  from  the  class  of   1838.      They  came 
in  with  us  and  we   were   joined   by   the  widow   of 
President  Finney,  his  third  wife,  and   also   by   the 
widow  of  our  classmate  Rev.  S.  W.    Streeter.      It 
was  a  review  meeting  of  our  life    work.    On    Inde- 
pendence Day,  July  4th,  Rev.  Huntington  Lyman, 
of  our  class,  and  myself  visited  the  cemetery  where 
sleep  President  Finney,  Professor   Henry  Cowles, 
Professor  John  Morgan  and  many  of   the   founders 
of  Oberlin  College.      On  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day  our  class  held  a  closing  meeting.     We  joined 
hands  in  a  circle,  sang  our  parting  hymn  and  took 
our  final  leave  of  each  other  until  we  meet  to  part 
no  more. 


Work  in  Missouri  185 


Towards  the  close  of  the  year  there  sprung  up  a 
correspondence  which  led  to  my  marriage  to  Mrs. 
Susan  Butler  on  the  24th  of  July,  1884. 

During  the  winter  months  I  was  shut  in.  In 
March  I  was  invited  to  Hopkins,  one  of  the 
churches  I  had  organized,  being  now  without  a 
pastor.  I  spent  two  weeks  with  them.  The  mem- 
bers were  quickened  and  one  very  interesting  con- 
version was  made.  At  the  preparatory  meeting, 
before  communion,  there  was  a  providential  meet- 
ing of  the  original  elders  of  the  Hopkins  church. 
They  remained  over  the  Sabbath  and  assisted  at 
the  Lord's  table.  One  brought  his  son  forward  for 
baptism.      It  was  a  spiritual  feast. 

Early  in  the  spring  I  made  quite  a  successful 
change  in  our  store  property,  built  over  a  cottage 
on  the  premises  and  fitted  it  up  for  a  home  for  my- 
self. I  had  remained  with  my  daughter,  Mrs.  J. 
R.  Taylor,  since  the  death  of  my  wife. 

A  casual  letter  from  Mrs.  Susan  Butler,  written 
while  my  first  wife  was  alive  and  well,  three  years 
before  her  death,  was  by  chance  re-read  some 
twelve  months  after  her  death.  It  contained  some 
sentiments  of  gratitude  for  instruction  I  had  given 
the  writer  when  an  inquirer  after  the  way  of  rest 
for  her  soul,  which  I  thought  demanded  of  me  an 
answer  even  after  the  intervention  of  four  years. 
This  led  to  a  reply  asking   me   for   an   article    for 


I  86  F^fh^  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

their  village  paper  giving  an  account  of  the  revival 
which  had  brought  into  their  church  seventy  mem- 
bers. I  sent  her  the  article.  It  was  published  in 
their  village  paper  and  afterwards  in  the  New  York 
Evangelist.  In  this  way  an  acquaintance  of  forty 
years  ago  was  renewed.  We  had  once  met  in 
those  years,  had  shaken  hands  and  had  been 
twenty  minutes  in  company  in  a  circle  of  friends. 
Our  correspondence  led  to  an  engagement  of  mar- 
riage and  to  seven  years  of  as  much  happiness  as 
could  be  realized  in  that  time.  When  we  came  to 
know  each  other  better,  we  found  that  we  were 
born  within  six  miles  of  each  other,  that  there  was 
but  six  days'  difference  in  our  ages  and  that  we 
were  baptized  by  the  same  minister.  When  we 
met  on  the  22nd  of  July  in  the  parlor  of  Alfred 
Emerson,  we  realized  that  an  unseen  hand  had 
guided  our  pens  in  the  correspondence  that  brought 
us  together.  Therefore  we  sealed  with  words  what 
our  pens  had  effected.  She  was  my  spiritual  child 
in  a  revival  of  1841  in  Youngstown,  N.  Y. ,  referred 
to  in  Chapter  III.  She  was  then  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Robinson  Butler,  who  was  also  a  subject  of  that 
work  of  grace.  Mr.  Butler  adorned  his  profession 
for  over  seventeen  years,  and  died  exclaiming, 
"Grace!  grace!"  Mrs.  Butler  lived  a  widow 
twenty-five  years,  finding  consolation  in  comfort- 
ing the  sick  and  administering  the  balm  of  Gilead 


Work  in  Missouri  187 


to  the  afflicted.  She  gathered  one  class  after 
another  to  the  Sabbath  School,  and  when  the 
second  class  of  young  ladies  went  out  from  her  as 
teachers  and  married  ladies,  she  went  to  the 
country  and  gathered  a  class  of  married  ladies  and 
their  husbands,  numbering  eight.  She  was  teacher 
of  this  class  when  I  married  her.  Her  old  phy- 
sician paid  her  this  compliment:  "Mr.  Sherwood, 
you  might  about  as  well  take  away  the  session  of 
our  church  as  the  lady  you  have  married."  In 
due  time  we  returned  to  Missouri  and  took  pos- 
session of  our  cottage  home  and  entered  upon 
housekeeping.  It  was  the  return  of  happy,  golden 
days,  which  continued  and  increased  with  every 
month  of  the  seven  years  we  were  permitted  to 
enjoy  each  other's  society. 

The  year  1885  was  ushered  in  with  very  cold 
and  disagreeable  weather.  There  were  no  calls 
from  vacant  churches  until  midsummer  when  I  was 
invited  to  visit  Lincoln  church,  seventy  miles 
southeast  of  St.  Joseph  in  Caldwell  county.  We 
left  home  in  the  hot  days  of  July,  spent  a  week 
with  the  church,  holding  meetings  from  day  to  day, 
and  closed  with  a  communion  service,  at  which 
time  five  new  members  united  with  the  church.  It 
was  a  pleasant  and  profitable  week  to  us  and  the 
church.  Mrs.  Sherwood  enjoyed  the  week  very 
much.     About  the  20th  of  December  of   the  same 


1 88  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

year,  the  church  of  Hopkins  sent  for  us  to  visit 
them  and  spend  some  days  with  them.  We 
accepted  their  invitation  and  staid  with  them  a 
week,  closing  with  a  communion  season. 

1886.  The  year  opened  warm,  with  a  genial 
atmosphere,  but  the  weather  soon  turned  cold  and 
snow  fell  sufficient  for  good  sleighing.  The  last 
Sabbath  of  January  was  spent  at  Cameron,  where 
I  preached  morning  and  night.  The  way  seemed 
to  open  to  recommence  services  at  Easton  church. 
I  went  down  a  few  times.  The  opportunity  was 
lost  by  the  opposition  of  one  man.  The  Sabbath 
School  is  the  hope  for  Easton. 

This  was  the  fiftieth  year  since  my  ordination  to 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel.  Fifty  years  before,  I 
had  received  from  the  Congregational  Association 
of  the  Western  Reserve  the    following    certificate: 

"Oberhn,  Ohio,  Sept.  6,  1836. 
"Having  examined  Elisha  B.  Sherwood  as  pre- 
paratory to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry  and 
finding  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  personal  piety, 
his  attainments  in  literature,  science  and  theology, 
and  his  ability  to  engage  in  the  great  work  to 
which  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  has  called 
him,  we  do  hereby  authorize  him  to  perform 
the  duties  of  the  holy  ministry,  and  affection- 
ately recommend  him  to  the  fellowship  of  the 
churches  and  ministers  of   our    Lord   Jesus  Christ 


Work  in  Missouri  189 


as  a  fellow-laborer  in  the  great  field,  ordained  to 
preach  the  gospel,  administer  its  ordinances,  and 
take  oversight  of  any  church  where  the  Lord  may 
direct  him  to  labor. 

"Done  by  vote  of  the  Association. 

"Daniel  Rockwell,  Moderator. 
"William  Bradley,  Scribe." 

I  thank  God  that  He  counted  me  worthy  to  be 
put  into  the  ministry  of  the  gospel.  I  thank  the 
Association  that  the  Lord  put  it  into  their  hearts 
to  authorize  me  to  preach  Christ.  I  thank  the 
Holy  Ghost  that  He  has  given  me  the  power  to 
preach  this  glorious  gospel  fifty  years  in  the  fields 
that  have  opened  to  me;  that  more  than  two 
thousand  souls  have  been  added  to  the  churches 
where  I  have  preached  this  gospel;  that  I  have 
organized  over  thirty  churches;  that  I  have  resus- 
citated and  put  into  working  order  a  large  number 
of  feeble  churches;  that  He  has  counted  me  worthy 
to  have  helped  so  many  young  men  into  the  min- 
istry of  the  gospel;  and  for  the  part  I  have  had  in 
bringing  about  the  organization  of  Park  College. 
This  has  all  been  done  by  God  working  in  me  to 
will  and  to  do.  Not  unto  me,  but  to  the  Holy 
Ghost  be  the  glory ! 

The  year  of  jubilee  having  come,  my  friends  took 
notice  of  this  event  in  my  life's  work.  The  city 
ministry  to  the  number   of  seventeen   met   at    the 


I  go  Fifty  Ycai's  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

residence  of  my  son-in-law,  Dr.  Joseph  R.  Taylor, 
709  S.  loth  Street,  St.  Joseph,  on  Monday,  Sep- 
tember 2 1  St.  They  came  early  and  staid  late. 
Not  one  of  the  seventeen  was  born  when  I  was 
ordained  to  my  work.  I  received  a  large  number 
of  letters  of  congratulation  from  friends  in  my  New 
York  fields  of  labor  and  from  the  brethren  of  our 
Presbytery.  I  will  append  one  from  an  old  lady 
ninety-four  years  old,  widow  of  elder  Daniel 
Holmes: 

"Wilson,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  20,  1886. 
"Rev.  E.  B.  Sherwood. 

"Dear  Friend: — I  thank  you  for  your  kind  invita- 
tion to  attend  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  your  ordi- 
nation to  the  gospel  ministry.  My  heart  will  be 
with  you.  I  think  I  had  better  remain  at  the 
homestead  until  I  have  a  call,  'Come  tome,'  from 
on  high.      "With  Christian  love, 

"Mrs.  Sarah  Holmes." 

We  received  congratulations  from  Youngstown, 
N.  Y. ,  a  joint  letter  from  friends  in  Liverpool, 
N.  Y. ,  congratulations  and  love  from  brother  and 
sister  Hatch  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  from  Mrs.  Dr. 
Artemus  Bullard,  whose  acquaintance  I  had  made 
in  1834  at  Lane  Seminary,  from  Rev.  Mr.  Hayden 
and  wife,  from  A.  M.  Saxton,  banker  in  St.  Joseph 
and  a  Sabbath  School  scholar  in  1835,  from  Rev. 
C.  J.   Van   Deventer   of  the    M.    E.    Church,  and 


Work  i?i  Missouri  191 


members  of  Platte  Presbytery:  Rev.  James  Reed 
of  Savannah,  Rev.  A.  B.  Goodale  of  Kingston, 
Rev.  Wm.  Meyer  of  Grant  City,  Rev.  W.  H.  Rogers 
of  Hamilton,  and  Rev.  T.  D.  Roberts  of  Oregon. 
These  letters  were  full  of  sympathy  and  tender 
feeling.  Mr.  Roberts  was  the  first  student  enter- 
ing the  ministry  from  Park  College  within  our 
bounds.  At  the  fall  meeting  of  Platte  Presbytery 
there  was  a  sketch  of  the  labors  of  these  fifty  years 
read  by  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers  and  listened  to  with  in- 
terest. Following  is  an  extract  from  the  "New  York 
Evangelist,"  dated  Sept.  30th,   1886:  — 

"It  is  fifty  years  since  the  ordination  of  the  Rev. 
E.  B.  Sherwood  to  the  ministry,  and  that  control- 
ling event  in  his  life  was  duly  marked  by  a  recep- 
tion given  at  the  residence  of  his  daughter  in  St, 
Joseph,  Mo.,  on  the  evening  of  the  21st  of  Sep- 
tember. Like  his  contemporary,  the  late  Dr. 
Hatfield,  he  was  greatly  blessed  in  his  early  minis- 
try. The  scene  of  these  faithful  and  fruitful  labors 
was  western  New  York  and  he  is  warmly  remem- 
bered there.  And  since  then,  though  far  from 
these  early  activities,  he  has  loved  'to  mind  the 
same  things. '  His  has  been  a  fruitful  as  well  as  a 
protracted  ministry;  and  now  at  evening  time  it  is 
light.  A  good  degree  of  strength  remains  to  him 
and  doubtless  nothing  so  renews  his  prime  as  to 
engage  in  special  labors  for  the  conversion  of  those 
who  are  out  of  the  fold  of  Christ." 


192  ^^f^y  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Li7ie 

The  "St.  Louis  Evangelist"  of  Sept.  23rd 
surprised  me  with  an  article  by  the  editor  on  my 
work,  which  he  had  known  personally  for  forty 
years.      Here  is  an  extract:  — 

"When  a  minister  by  a  bold  attack  did  what  I 
knew  was  done  by  the  Rev.  E.  B.  Sherwood  in 
Liverpool,  N.  Y. ,  in  driving  out  drinking  and 
gambling,  which  for  years  had  been  the  standing 
wickedness  of  that  town,  and  in  giving  the  people 
in  this  place  an  evening  school  for  the  instruction 
of  those  adults  who  could  not  read  nor  write,  a 
savings  bank  in  place  of  the  saloon  drawer,  a  lodge 
of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  instead  of  the  corrup- 
tions of  the  saloon,  and  Sabbath  evening  lectures 
for  the  masses,  I  knew  that  he  was  worth  some- 
thing to  the  world  wherever  his  lot  was  cast.  Men 
are  remembered  by  what  they  have  done." 

This  commemoration  of  the  fifty  years  would  be 
the  natural  close  of  Chapter  VL,  but  there  is  one 
duty  which  I  owe  to  Mrs.  Susan  Buller  Sherwood, 
which  can  be  better  discharged  here  than  in  any 
other  period  connected  with  this  sketch  of  my  life. 

Mrs.  Sherwood  had  been  with  me  tw^o  years  and 
two  months  when  the  jubilee  occurred.  She  was 
deeply  interested  in  the  event,  the  first  occasion  of 
the  sort  which  she  had  witnessed.  It  gave  her 
great  pleasure  to  witness  the  respect  paid  to  her 
husband  on  that    occasion    by    home    friends    and 


Work  in  Missouri  193 


those  more  remote.     From  that  time  she  felt  that 
she  was  among    friends.      Her    health    had    been 
enfeebled  by  the  greater  heat  of  this  climate    over 
that  of  New  York.      The  pleasant  fall  that  followed 
toned  up    her    system.      Her    general    health    im- 
proved.     The    almost     five   years   that    she    lived 
after  the  jubilee  were  pleasant  years  to  her,  giving 
her  health  and  strength  beyond  her  most  sanguine 
expectations.      She  was  adding  every  year   to    her 
list  of  friends,  for  she  had  only    to    be    known    to 
make  fast  friends.      She  counted   these   five   years 
among  the  happiest  periods  of  her  long  and  useful 
life.     The  day  she  was  taken   sick,  she   prepared, 
cooked  and  ate    her    last    meal.      For   seven   days 
she    was    the    greatest    sufferer    I    ever    attended. 
Everything  was  done  that   medical    science    could 
devise,  but  no  relief  came  until    exhausted    nature 
worked    its    own    relief.      When    relief    came,  she 
was  so  prostrated  that  there  was  no    recuperation, 
and  she    steadily    sank   into   the   arms    of    death. 
The  day  before  she  died  she  said  to  me,  "How  good 
was  my  heavenly  Father  to  send   you   to   Youngs- 
town  in  that  meeting  of  1841  to  show  me  the  way 
to  my  Savior!"     One  of  her  lady  friends  asked  her 
the  same  day,  "How  do    you    feel?     She    replied, 
"It  is  well   with   my   soul,  but  my  body  is    full    of 
pain."     Dying  was  but  going  home  with  her.    Her 
mind  was  perfectly  clear,  so  that  she    gave    direc- 


194  Fifty  Years  oti  the  Skirmish  Lifie 

tions  as  to  her  dress  and  burial,  and  how 
to  distribute  her  mementos.  She  died  about 
half-past  six  in  the  morning  of  the  hottest 
day  in  the  year,  August  7th,  1891,  aged  81  years 
and  four  months.  We  carried  out  her  wishes, 
warm  as  the  day  was.  The  body  was  prepared 
and  coffined,  and  brief  services  were  held  in  the 
home  she  loved  so  well  by  Dr.  Dinwiddie  of  the 
M.  E.  church,  her  pastor  being  in  Philadelphia. 
In  the  evening  we  put  her  body  on  the  fast  train 
and  left  for  Youngstown,  N.  Y. ,  where  we  laid  her 
to  rest  on  her  own  lot  between  her  only  son  and 
Mr.  Butler.  "Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in 
the  Lord." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PARK  COLLEGE  AND  MY  RELATIONS  TO  IT. 

The  great  want  of  Missouri  from  its  early  settle- 
ment was  a  Christian  college.  Dr.  David  Nelson 
saw  the  need  and  attempted  to  supply  it  by  estab- 
lishing Marion  College  in  the  northeastern  portion 
of  the  state.  He  was  in  advance  of  the  people  he 
attempted  to  benefit.  They  spurned  his  offer  and 
rejected  his  help  and  compelled  him  to  flee  from 
the  state. 

Dr.  Artemus  Bullard,  who  has  left  his  footprints 
in  almost  every  county  in  this  large  state,  was  the 
next  man  who  realized  the  want  and  began  such  a 
college  at  Webster  Groves.  His  sudden  death  at 
the  falling  of  the  Gasconade  bridge  near  the  close 
of  1855  Isft  the  infant  college  at  Webster  Groves 
without  any  one  to  carry  out  Dr.  Bullard's  plan. 
The  college  building  was  converted  into  an  orphan 
asylum.  This  is  all  that  remains  of  that  well- 
begun  effort. 

When  I  came  to  the  Missouri  valley  in  Novem- 
ber, 1865,  Quantrell  and  the  James  boys  were  so 
popular  that   emigrants   on    their   way  to    Kansas 

195 


196  Fifty   Years  o?i  the  Skirmish  Line 

would   go    around   the   state   rather    than    chance 
their   lives   by    passing    through    it.      Pistols    out- 
numbered Bibles  in  some  congregations  to  which  I 
first  preached.      1  found  what  was    known    as    the 
Platte  Purchase  one  scene  of  moral  desolation,  save 
at  St.  Joseph  and  some  of  the  better  county-seats. 
I  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  church  at  Wes- 
ton, Platte  County.      I  accepted  the  invitation  and 
removed  my   family   there    in   May,    1866.      I  had 
been  in  Weston  less  than  two  months  when  I    was 
instructed  to  go  to  Breckinridge,  Caldwell   county, 
and  if  the  way  was  clear  organize  a  church   there.  * 
I  obeyed    instructions,  found    the    way    clear    and 
organized  a  Presbyterian  church.     Very  soon  there 
came  a  like  message  to  go  to  Forest   City,  seventy 
miles  northwest.      Soon  I  was  asked  to  undertake 
the  work  of  a  Presbyterial  missionary   for   the    old 
Lexington   Presbytery.     As   we   began   organizing 
new  churches  and  gathering  up  those  scattered  by 
the  war,  the  question  of  supplies   for  these    fields 
came  up.     Whence  were  they  to  come?   They  must 
come  from  the  east  or  north.      We  made  the  effort 
to  introduce  eastern  men.      I  induced  one  man    to 
come  from  western  New  York.     He  staid  just   one 
week.     The  first  Sabbath  he  preached  in  a  newly 
organized  church.      Some  roughs  came  in  and   un- 
dertook to  run  the   town.     The   citizens   objected 
and  the  roughs  began  shooting,  which  brought  on 


Park  College  and  77iy  relations  to  it  igy 

a  bad  state  for  the  vSabbath  day.  I  was  with  him 
to  introduce  him  to  the  people  on  that  day.  The 
place  did  not  please  him.  He  packed  his  grip  the 
next  morning  and  left. 

Coming  from  either  north  or  east  there  were 
many  things  so  different  from  what  they  had  been 
used  to,  that  they  had  to  go  through  a  process  of 
acclimatization  before  they  became  adapted  to  the 
new  order  of  things.  It  would  take  from  one  to 
two  years  before  they  could  do  efficient  work.  After 
an  experience  of  four  years,  I  became  thoroughly 
convinced  that  our  only  hope  of  a  supply  of  minis- 
ters and  Christian  workers  was  to  start  a  college 
for  training  them  on  the  field  they  are  to  occupy. 
Accordingly  I  submitted  to  Platte  Presbytery  the 
following  thoughts: 

"That  there  is  a  pressing  need  for  ministers  and 
Christian  helpers  within  our  bounds,  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  Those  of  us  who  have  had  to  do  with  sup- 
plying our  churches  with  ministers  and  our  Sabbath 
Schools  with  superintendents  and  teachers  know 
that  the  men  we  need  are  not  to  be  had  with  the 
inducements  our  churches  can  offer.  We  are 
laying  foundations  for  northwestern  Missouri  Pres- 
byterianism.  There  are  two  sources  of  growth  of 
the  church  of  Christ.  One  is  from  an  internal  life 
outward.  The  other  is  by  accretion.  The  first 
is  always  a  healthy  growth.      The   second   may  or 


198  Fifiy  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

may  not  be  healthy.  There  will  be  a  large  immi- 
gration to  us  soon  from  other  states  and  territories 
and  from  other  nations.  To  make  such  accessions 
of  population  an  integral  part  of  ourselves,  we  must 
fuse  these  different  elements  into  one  living  mass, 
that  they  may  act  together  in  a  common  cause. 
This  is  a  difficult  process  and  not  always  successful ; 
when  not,  it  is  always  hazardous.  Growth  from 
an  internal  life  outward  always  secures  the  condi- 
tions of  unity. 

"What  is  true  of  the  membership  is  true  of  the 
ministry  of  our  church.  An  imported  ministry 
must  possess  some  superior  gifts  over  a  home-born 
one.  These  gifts  enhance  the  value  of  such  a 
ministry,  which  puts  them  beyond  our  reach,  for 
the  majority  of  our  churches  are  not  rich.  It  is 
a  serious  question  after  all  whether  an  imported 
ministry  has  the  elements  of  as  much  usefulness  as 
one  that  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  church  from  an 
internal  life.  I  think  it  is  a  settled  principle  in  the 
history  of  a  live  church  that  its  most  useful  laborers 
have  been  the  outgrowth  of  the  church.  Under 
the  Old  Testament  church  the  tribe  of  Levi  were 
consecrated  to  the  priesthood.  Under  the  New 
Testament  church  the  Holy  Ghost  selects  from  a 
royal  priesthood,  a  chosen  generation.  Christ 
made  His  selection  from  the  common  people.  The 
Holy  Ghost  working  through  these  turned  the  world 


Park  College  and  my  I'elations  to  it  i  gg 

upside  down  in  thirty  years.  He  chose  the  weak 
things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things  that  are 
mighty,  that  no  flesh  should  glory. 

"Seeking  and  saving  the  lost  is  a  practical  work. 
Therefore  only  practical  workers  succeed.  When 
God  calls  men  and  women  into  His  vineyard,  He 
has  work  to  be  done.  When,  like  Saul  of  Tarsus, 
they  put  themselves  into  a  waiting  attitude,  God 
will  show  them  what  He  has  for  them  to  do,  and 
how  He  means  them  to  do  it.  Our  standards  define 
the  qualifications  for  the  ministry.  Our  practical 
duty  as  a  Presbytery  is  to  undertake  the  work  of 
raising  up  the  men  to  cultivate  this  opening  field 
included  in  the  nineteen  counties  in  the  bounds 
of  our  Presbytery.  To  enable  us  to  enter  upon 
this  work,  we  have  a  property  offered  us  by  the 
Hon.  George  S.  Park  for  a  home  for  such  a  train- 
ing school  for  ministers  and  Christian  helpers." 

This  paper  was  read  and  referred  to  a  committee 
consisting  of  Rev.  E.  B.  Sherwood,  Rev.  J.  M. 
Crawford  and  elder  John  Maitland,  to  report  at  the 
spring  meeting.  Accordingly,  at  that  time  the 
committee  reported  that  six  months'  experience 
had  added  to  our  conviction  of  the  necessity  of 
a  training  school  for  raising  up  Christian  workers 
and  ministers,  and  that  now  was  the  time  to  seize 
upon  the  offer  of  the  Hon.  George  S.  Park,  who 
was  there  to  verify  the  statements  I  had  previously 


200  F'ifiy  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

made.  Mr.  Park  then  rose  and  tendered  the  Pres- 
bytery the  hotel  property  at  Parkville,  Mo.,  a  three- 
story  stone  bnliding,  80  x  100  feet,  with  twenty 
acres  on  the  bluff  for  a  campus  and  eighty  acres 
lying  north  of  the  village  on  the  branch.  The  re- 
port was  accepted  and  the  committee  continued. 
A  vote  of  thanks  was  proffered  to  Mr.  Park  for  his 
generous  offer,  but  Presbytery  was  not  prepared 
to  avail  itself  of  it  then.  This  offer  was  the  germ 
of  Park  College. 

The  germ  was  developed  on  this  wise.  At  the 
union  of  the  Old  and  New  School  Synods  of  Mis- 
souri at  St.  Louis  in  June  T870,  I  met  the  Rev. 
Professor  John  A.  McAfee.  During  his  address 
before  the  united  Synod  on  the  importance  of  a 
Christian  college,  .1  said  to  myself,  "I  have  found 
my  man."  Professor  McAfee  was  the  first  minister 
I  had  met  in  Missouri  whose  views  sympathized 
with  mine  on  the  importance  of  a  Christian  college. 
At  the  close  of  his  address  I  sought  him  out  and 
gave  him  my  hand  and  my  heart.  From  that  day, 
to  his  death,  our  hearts  were  one  on  the  subject 
of  Christian  education.  Not  many  weeks  after 
this  synodical  meeting  I  met  Dr.  Samuel  Irvin  of 
Highland,  Kansas,  who  was  in  search  of  a  pro- 
fessor for  Highland  University.  I  gave  him  the 
name  of  Professor  John  A.  McAfee.  He  wrote 
and  secured  him  for  Highland.      He  remained  there 


ParJz  College  and  my  relations  to  it  201 

five  years  and  did  what  no  other  professor  had 
done  for  them.  He  brought  the  University  to  such 
a  position  that  the  Board  of  Trustees  called  a 
president  and  elected  a  full  faculty.  Professor 
McAfee  v;/as  given  the  Greek  chair,  with  such 
restrictions  that  he  could  not  accept  it,  and  his  work 
there  ceased. 

Learning  that  he  had  closed  his  work  at  High- 
land, I  wrote  him  that  I  had  a  place  for  him  at 
Parkville  and  told  him  of  the  offer  of  Mr.  Park. 
After  the  passage  of  several  letters,  a  meeting  was 
arranged  for  the  29th  of  March,  1875.  The  Hon. 
George  S.  Park  and  Dr.  John  A.  McAfee  met  for 
the  first  time.  It  was  with  great  pleasure  that  I 
brought  these  two  gentlemen  together.  God  had 
given  Mr.  Park  the  means  and  Dr.  McAfee  the 
training  to  use  the  means  tendered  by  Mr.  Park. 
They  were  not  long  in  settling  the  preliminaries. 
The  name  was  settled  first: 
"park  college  for  training  christian  workers." 

Professor  McAfee  was  to  take  immediate  pos- 
session of  the  hotel  property,  and  with  it,  lands 
for  garden  and  farming  and  fruit  from  the  orchard 
for  family  supplies.  Mr.  Park  donated  $500  to 
enable  Professor  McAfee  to  change  his  location 
from  Highland  to  Parkville.  These  were  the  men 
whom  God  had  raised  up  to  found  a  Christian 
college  in  Missouri.      They  were  both   baptized  by 


202  Pifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

Dr.  David  Nelson,  Dr.  McAfee  in  infancy,  Mr. 
Park  at  his  conversion.  Dr.  Nelson  had  impressed 
both  these  men  with  his  self-denying>  Christlike 
example  in  educational  efforts  for  the  worthy  poor. 
Little  did  Dr.  Nelson  think  while  baptizing  John 
A.  McAfee  in  infancy  or  George  S.  Park  in  his 
majority  that  he  was  baptizing  the  men  who  would 
take  up  and  carry  out  the  plan  that  lay  in  his  own 
heart  and  train  the  worthy  poor  youth  as  ministers 
and  teachers  for  the  increasing  millions  of  the 
valley  of  the  Missouri! 

When  God  wants  workers.  He  takes  them  from 
the  classes  He  designs  to  benefit.  When  He 
wanted  a  man  who  would  furnish  a  home  for  such 
a  school  as  the  youth  of  Missouri  demanded,  he  put 
it  into  the  heart  of  George  S.  Park,  a  youth  of 
sixteen  years,  to  leave  his  home  in  Vermont  on  foot 
in  the  winter  of  1827,  and  thus  make  the  entire 
journey  to  the  state  of  Illinois.  On  reaching  that 
state,  he  cast  about  for  something  to  do.  A  school 
opened  to  him.  He  entered  it  and  taught  through 
the  term.  He  learned  one  thing,  to  wit,  that  he 
needed  more  education.  Hence  he  entered  Jack- 
sonville College  and  pursued  its  course  until  he 
completed  its  junior  year.  Wanting  a  change,  he 
took  a  hand  in  the  conflict  for  Texan  independence. 
He  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  fray  in  the  bloody 
scenes  of  those  terrible  days.      In  the  Goliad  mas- 


Park  College  and  my  relations  to  it  203 

sacre  he  was  one  of  three  who  escaped  with  their 
Hves.  Returning  from  Texas,  he  stopped  in  Cal- 
laway County,  Mo.  Here  he  taught  a  school  where 
he  was  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Dr.  David 
Nelson,  was  baptized  and  united  with  the  Presby- 
terian church. 

On  the  opening  of  the  Platte  Purchase  for  set- 
tlement, Mr.  Park  settled  as  a  merchant  at  what 
is  known  as  Parkville,  and  became  an  extensive 
land  owner  in  Missouri  and  Texas,  and  later  in 
Illinois.  He  was  one  of  three  male  members  who 
founded  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Parkville.  He 
built  a  parsonage,  gave  the  lot  for  the  church  and 
$500  to  start  the  house  of  worship,  and  saw  it 
finished.  He  next  planned  for  the  education  of 
the  youth  and  was  in  the  midst  of  these  plans 
when  the  border  war  troubles  broke  in  upon  them 
and  drove  him  from  his  home  for  a  time. 

I  was  introduced  to  Mr.  Park  in  1866  when  he 
was  a  candidate  for  the  state  senate,  to  which  he 
was  elected.  I  did  not  meet  him  again  until  the 
fall  of  1872,  when  as  Presbyterial  missionary,  two 
years  after  the  death  of  their  old  pastor.  Dr.  John 
Moore,  I  was  invited  by  Mr.  Park  to  make  his 
house  my  home  in  Parkville.  With  a  smiling 
countenance  he  said  that  there  was  always  a 
prophet's  chamber  in  it.  At  my  second  visit  the 
subject  of  our  want  of  a  Christian  training    school 


204  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Lt?ie 

came  up.  I  soon  discovered  that  I  had  found  the 
man  for  whom  I  was  looking,  one  who  had  a  home 
for  such  a  school. 

We  had  to  wait  some  three  years  before  the  one 
whom  God  designed  to  take  possession  of  this  home 
was  ready  to  enter  it.  He  was  in  training  in  the 
person  of  the  Rev.  Professor  John  A.  McAfee. 
Born  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  baptized  by  Dr. 
David  Nelson  in  the  New  Providence  church,  his 
early  life  impressed  with  the  consecrated  life  of 
Dr.  Nelson,  trained  by  godly  parents  in  the  way 
he  should  go,  circumstances  seemed  to  have 
stamped  his  character  as  one  that  was  set  apart 
for  God's  work.  He  devoted  himself  to  a  thorough 
classical  education  and  graduated  from  Westmin- 
ster College,  Fulton,  Mo.  As  the  question  of  his 
life  work  came  up  for  settlement,  it  became  more 
and  more  certain  that  John  A.  McAfee  was  to  take 
up  the  work  which  Dr.  Nelson  had  been  compelled 
to  lay  down  for  want  of  sympathy  and  means  to 
carry  it  forward.  Professor  McAfee  soon  entered 
upon  his  chosen  work  with  a  consecration  that  told 
that  his  whole  soul  was  in  it.  God  gave  him  a 
wife  who  was  in  full  sympathy  with  him  and  was 
his  efficient  helper  in  all  that  was  given  him  to  do. 
They  drew  around  them  a  choice  circle  of  j^outh 
who  under  their  training  became  useful  ministers 
and  teachers.      Professor  McAfee    failed    to    enlist 


Park  College  and  my  relations  to  it  205 

men  of  means  to  aid  him  in  a  large  effort  until,  in 
His  own  way  and  time,  God  brought  him  in  contact 
with  the  right  man.  Little  did  I  think,  when  I 
listened  to  those  three  serm.ons  of  Dr.  David  Nelson 
in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1832,  that  he  was  dropping 
into  my  heart  and  brain  germs  whose  growth 
would  control  my  preparation  for  the  ministry, 
direct  my  ministry  for  eighteen  years  in  New  York 
and  ten  years  in  Michigan,  and  bring  me  to  Mis- 
souri when  there  was  such  a  demand  for  a  Christian 
college,  and  when  there  was  needed  a  man  to  bring 
together  the  men  whom  God  had  been  preparing  to 
meet  that  great  demand.  It  was  my  privilege 
to  bring  together  the  Hon.  George  S.  Park  and 
the  Rev.  Professor  John  A.  McAfee  on  March  29th, 
1875.  It  was  the  linking  together  of  two  grand 
men  in  one  of  the  noblest  objects  that  can  occupy 
the  heart  and  hand  of  Christian  men. 

Impelled  by  convictions  and  driven  by  the  dis- 
pensations of  an  all-wise  Providence,  Professor 
McAfee  gave  his  life  with  its  best  energies  to  devis- 
ing methods  and  organizing  agencies  for  reaching 
successfully  the  class  of  youth  to  which  he  had 
belonged.  The  plan  he  adopted  was  that  of  a  well 
regulated  Christian  family.  The  name  he  gave  it 
was,  "Park  College  Family."  The  age  fixed  for 
entrance  to  this  Family  was  sixteen.  It  was  open 
to  any  youth  who  desired  a  classical  education  and 


2o6  Fifty  Years  oti  the  Skirmish  Line 

would  honestly  and  faithfull}^  manifest  the  disposi- 
tion to  use  aright  the  opportunities  afforded  and 
would  develop  the  capacity  that  promised  useful- 
ness in  the  church  and  the  world.  The  object  of 
Park  College  is  to  educate  and  develop  each  student 
so  that  he  will  act  well  his  part  in  whatever  sphere 
of  life  he  is  called  to  fill.  The  Family  is  a  helper 
and  feeder  to  the  College.  Every  student  who 
makes  application  for  membership  in  the  Family 
receives  a  circular  in  which  its  object  is  clearly 
stated  in  these  words: 

"Who  are  admitted.? — i.  Those  to  whom  God 
has  given  a  desire  and  purpose  faithfully  to  study 
the  Bible,  receive  its  teachings  and  practice  its 
precepts,  and  secure  a  training  for  efficiency  in  the 
service  of  the  Lord.  No  amount  of  money,  no 
appeal  of  sympathy  or  faithfulness  in  work  will 
secure  a  place  for  one  who  does  not  faithfully  seek 
the  one  object  had  in  view  here. 

"2.   Those  who    have    entered    upon,    and   will 

steadily  pursue  a  full  classical   course   of  training. 

"3.   Those    who    will    heartily    engage   in    some 

manual  labor  each  day  and  seek  proficiency  in  any 

sphere  given  them  to  fill. 

"4.  Those  who  will  seek  daily  to  glorify  God  in 
work,  study  and  a  hearty  and  cheerful  obedience 
to  those  who  are  over  them  in  the  Lord. 

"5.   Welcome  the  youth  who  eagerly  desires  a 


Park  College  and  my  relations  to  it  207 


development  and  a  training  for  the  Master's  ser- 
vice. But  those  vi'hose  parents  are  unable  to  meet 
the  necessary  expenses  should  and  must  have  such 
consent  of  parents  as  shall  enable  them  to  yield  a 
cheerful  and  unhesitating  allegiance  to  the  family 
as  its  adopted  children  during  the  college  course." 

Prof.  McAfee  was  put  in    possession   of  a   place 
and  means  to  inaugurate  his    family    plan    by    the 
Hon.  George  S.  Park  in  March  1875  in  an   unused 
hotel  building  in   the   village   of  Parkville,  on  the 
Missouri  river  nine  miles  above  Kansas  City.      Be- 
ginning with  seventeen  moneyless  but   determined 
students,  the  work  has  grown  to  its  present  (1893) 
number  of  335  and  will  continue  to  grow  as  rapidly 
as  the  Lord  gives  us  means  to   provide   rooms   for 
students.      There  is  no  endowment  for  the  Family. 
The  Lord  provides.      The  year  from  June  1892  to 
1893  the  Family  received   $39,404.30   which   was 
expended  in  table  supplies,  improvements,  repairs, 
implements,  buildings   and   all   kinds   of  expenses 
for  a  family  of  over  three  hundred.     Appeals    are 
made  by  pen  and  press. 

Why  this  success.?  The  blessing  of  the  Lord  is 
a  moving  power  in  the  hearts  of  all  engaged  in  the 
work,  resulting  from  the  presence  and  power  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  honoring  the  constant  and  large 
use  daily  made  of  the  Scripture.  Devotional  Bible 
study  is   the    one    supreme    thought    overreaching 


2o8  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir77iish  Line 

everything  else.  It  is  simply  feeding  upon  the  in- 
spired word  of  God,  and  letting  it  influence  and 
control  the  motives  and  actions  of  all  connected 
with  Park  College  Family.  Another  reason  for 
its  success  is  the  self-respect  inculcated,  fostered 
and  cultivated  in  each  student.  Another  is  the 
devotion  felt  for  their  college  home.  All  that 
enter  there  feel  it  has  been  a  home  to  them  during 
the  years  they  remained  there.  Another  reason  is 
the  entire  dependence  upon  the  grace  of  God  and 
the  faithfulness  required  of  all  connected  with  the 
Family. 

These  are  the  reasons  why  Park  College  is  draw- 
ing students  from  Syria,  Bulgaria,  Spain,  Ger- 
many, Scotland,  England,  Canada  and  other 
British  provinces,  as  well  as  from  a  majority  of  the 
United  States.  Our  students  are  in  demand  for 
the  home  and  foreign  mission  work,  and  are 
already  doing  valiant  service  both  in  the  Missouri 
valley  and  elsewhere. 

On  the  I2th  of  April,  1875,  Park  College  Family 
had  possession  of  the  home.  The  course  of  study 
was  fully  inaugurated.  The  system  of  work 
indoors  and  out  on  the  farm  was  begun.  Spring 
opened  with  promise;  everything  in  garden  and 
field  was  flourishing.  Mysterious  as  it  may  appear, 
just  at  this  time  the  grasshopper  army  put  in 
their  appearance.     In    an   incredibly    short    time 


.<? 


Wn^J.U 


Park  College  and  my  relations  to  it  209 


there  was  nothing  left  that  was  green  on  the  entire 
premises  but  a  few  tomato  plants  on  the  window- 
stools  of  the  third  story  of  the  home  of  the  College 
Family.  Garden  and  farm  all  were  swept  clean. 
Here  was  a  crisis  to  be  passed.  Who  was  to  meet 
it?  Providence  seemed  to  indicate  that  I  must 
undertake  it. 

I  left  home  on  the  8th   of  June    to   see   what   I 
could  do  among  my  friends  in    the    state    of    New 
York.      In  a  few  days  I  sent  back  from   Lockport, 
N.  Y.,  a  draft  for  $40,  $20  of  which  came  from  T. 
T.  Flagler,  Esq,      I  spent  my  time  until   the   first 
of  November,  about    five    months,  in    New    York, 
where  I  found  a  few  friends  in  every  circle   of   my 
early  acquaintances  who  contributed.      Some  gave 
money;  some  gave  other  help.      So  that  crisis  was 
passed.      Dr.  Knox  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  entered  into  sympathy 
with  us  and  laid  out  a  plan  whereby  I  raised  in  his 
congregation  $160.      Those   months    were    not    to 
be  estimated  only  by    the    money   and   the   goods 
obtained,  which  kept  the    Family   in   supplies.      I 
raised  up  future  friends  who  have  given  thousands 
of  dollars  to  Park  College  Family. 

An  invitation  to  return  to  Michigan  and  spend  a 
year  in  gathering  a  new  church  in  North  Kalama- 
zoo, took  me  out  of  Missouri  one  year  and  three 
months.     On  my  return  to  Missouri   on   the   20th 


210  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skiri7iish  Line 

of  July  1877,  Professor  McAfee  wished  me  to  re- 
turn to  the  financial  agency  of  Park  College.  I 
consented  to  give  the  remainder  of  the  year  to  this 
work,  visiting  the  states  of  Illinois  and  Kansas.  I 
gave  August  and  September  to  Kansas  and  to  St. 
Louis  and  other  points  in  Missouri  where  there  was 
hope  of  doing  anything  for  the  young  college.  St. 
Louis  gave  us  considerable  help.  Kansas  City 
responded  with  money,  lumber,  nails  and  clothing. 
I  attended  the  meetings  of  Topeka  Presbytery 
and  of  the  Synod  of  Kansas  and  was  kindly  received. 
The  Synod  of  Missouri  met  this  year  at  St.  Charles. 
I  attended,  and  to  my  surprise  was  nominated  for 
moderator  and  elected  by  acclamation.  After 
Synod  I  visited  the  eastern  portion  of  Missouri  and 
passed  over  into  Illinois.  I  found  substantial  aid 
at  Jacksonville,  Springfield,  Bloomington,  Winona, 
L'Ostant,  Carrollton  and  many  other  places.  Ten 
days  were  spent  at  the  home  of  the  Hon.  George 
S.  Park  at  Magnolia,  111.,  in  work  on  a  charter  for 
Park  College  in  consort  with  Mr.  Park,  drafting 
and  perfecting  the  same.  It  was  submitted  to 
competent  judges  and  approved.  This  charter  was 
brought  forward  by  Mr.  Park  at  the  first  com- 
mencement, June  1879.  He  had  associated  his 
daughter,  Ella  L.  Park,  now  Mrs.  George  A.  Law- 
rence of  Galesburg,  111. ,  with  himself.  Also  Rev. 
C.   C.    Kimball,    D.D.,    Jonathan   Ford,    Timothy 


Park  College  and  my  relations  to  it  211 


Hill,  D.D.,  J.  W.  Byers  and  P.  S.  Brown,  Esq., 
of  Kansas  City;  Rev.  E.  B.  Sherwood,  Rev.  Henry 
Bullard  and  John  De  Clue  of  St.  Joseph;  James 
Marsh,  M.  D.,  of  Liberty,  Mo.,  and  Rev.  Professor 
John  A.  McAfee,  Mrs.  John  A.  McAfee  and  F. 
Kahm  of  Parkville  as  trustees.  These  trustees 
adopted  the  charter  presented  by  the  Hon.  George 
S.  Park  (see  Charter  in  Appendix).  At  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  under  this 
charter,  the  following  officers  were  chosen: 

Rev.  C.  C.  Kimball,  D.D,,  President,  Rev.  E. 
B.  Sherwood,  Vice-President,  Mr.  Jonathan  Ford, 
Secretary,  Mr.  J.  W.  Byers,  Treasurer. 

Advisory  Committee:  C.  C.  Kimball,  E.  B. 
Sherwood,  John  A.  McAfee,  Jonathan  Ford,  J. 
W.  Byers. 

At  a  called    meeting    of    the    Trustees    of    Park 
College  on  the  31st   of  May,  1882,  the   vice-presi- 
dent was  called  to   the   chair.      The   first    business 
v^as  the  acceptance  of  the  resignation  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  on   account   of   change   of    resi- 
dence.   The  resignation  was  accepted.    On  motion 
of  Mr.  John    DeClue,  Rev.  E.    B.    Sherwood   was 
chosen  President.      The    next    morning,  June    ist, 
the    Board    met    at    8    o'clock   and   proceeded   to 
business    preparatory     to    commencement    duties. 
The  degree  of  A.  B.  was  granted    to    the    thirteen 
graduates  recommended  by  the  faculty  as   entitled 


212  Fify  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

to  this  degree.  I  signed  the  diploma  of  that  grad- 
uating class,  our  fourth  since  the  beginning,  and 
every  year  since  have  had  the  same  pleasant  duty 
to  perform.  The  class  of  1893  brought  up  our 
alumni  roll  to  200.  My  name  stands  on  the 
diplomas  of    184  of  these. 

I  am  truly  thankful  that  I  am  spared  while  so 
many  co-workers  have  died.  As  a  Board  we  have 
witnessed  and  aided  the  steady  growth  and  the 
uprising  of  Park  College  until  it  is  the  banner 
college  of  our  church  in  furnishing  candidates  for 
the  Presbyterian  ministry.  While  many  colleges 
are  soliciting  students  we  have  been  compelled  to 
turn  away  from  one  to  two  hundred  annually  for 
the  last  four  or  five  years. 

The  friends  of  Park  College  have  grown  with  its 
growth.  The  wants  of  the  college  have  increased 
with  our  increasing  members.  According  to  our 
faith  in  the  divine  Lord  who  gave  us  Park  College 
have  our  wants  in  buildings,  lands,  teachers  and 
supplies  been  met.  It  was  God's  planting.  Its 
growth  is  from  an  internal  life  outward.  As  long 
as  its  Board  of  Trustees,  its  faculty,  its  alumni 
and  its  students  abide  in  Christ  and  His  words 
abide  in  us,  we  may  ask  whatever  will  be  for  God's 
glory  and  the  best  interest  of  Park  College  and  it 
shall  be  done  for  us. 

Since  our  incorporation   in  June,  1879,  four    of 


Park  College  and  my  relations  to  it  213 


the  incorporators  have  died.  The  first  to  be  called 
away  was  that  prince  of  Home  Mission  leaders, 
Rev.  Timothy  Hill,  D.D.,  the  vice-president  of 
our  board.  He  had  accompanied  his  younger  son 
to  a  new  building  that  he  was  superintending.  The 
son  had  occasion  to  be  absent  from  the  room 
where  his  father  was  looking  over  his  morning 
mail.  When  he  returned  he  found  his  father  dead, 
his  hand  grasping  the  letter  he  was  reading  when 
the  unseen  messenger  called  him  home. 

The  Hon.  George  S.  Park    died  on    the    6th    of 
June,   1890,  after    a    long    and    painful    illness    at 
Magnolia,  111.      His  remains  were  brought  to  Park- 
ville,  attended  by   his   widow,  his   daughter,  Mrs. 
Ella  Park  Lawrence  and  her  husband,    George    A. 
Lawrence,  Esq.,  and    his   only   grandson,    Master 
Park    Lawrence.      After    funeral    services    in    the 
McCormick  Chapel  of  Park  College   in   which    Dr. 
John  A.  McAfee,  Dr.  Henry  Bullard  and  the  Rev. 
E.  B.  Sherwood  each  took  part,  he  was  borne  by 
a  large  procession  to  the  burial  place   of    his    own 
selection  m  the  cemetery  of  Parkville.     After   the 
coffin  was  deposited    in    the    grave,  the    corporate 
Board,  the  faculty,  alumni  and  students  laid   each 
a  flower  upon  his  coffin  as  a  token  of  their  respect 
for   the   man   whose    memory   will   live    wherever 
Park  College  is  known.     Mr.  Park  had  passed  his 
79th  birthday,  and  hence    was    ripe   in   years   and 
service. 


214  F'ifty  Years  on  the  Skirtnish  Line 

This  was  a  mournful  beginning  of  our  com- 
mencement for  1890.  The  Board  of  Trustees  were 
in  full  attendance  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday. 
A  large  class  had  graduated.  President  McAfee 
had  said  his  farewell  as  he  passed  to  each  graduate 
his  diploma.  The  committee  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  to  whom  had  been  referred  the  report  of 
President  McAfee  as  to  the  state  of  the  college,  of 
which  Mr.  John  De  Clue  was  chairman,  were  highly 
pleased  with  the  condition  dispalyed.  At  the  close 
of  the  commencement  exercises  Mr.  DeClue  came 
forward  and  read  their  report  before  the  full  house, 
recommending  that  it  be  received  by  a  rising  vote 
of  the  entire  audience.  The  President  of  the  Board 
put  the  question;  the  entire  audience  arose.  The 
effect  on  Dr.  McAfee  was  noticed  by  some.  He 
was  under  necessity  of  seeking  fresh  air  at  the  back 
door  of  the  chapel  before  the  audience  was  dis- 
missed. That  night  there  was  an  adjourned  meet- 
ing of  the  Presbytery  of  Platte  in  the  chapel,  in 
which  Dr.  McAfee  took  an  active  part.  His  son 
met  him  at  the  chapel  with  a  horse  and  buggy, 
with  which  the  President  drove  to  his  house. 
Soon  after  he  retired  to  bed  but  without  relief. 
As  the  gates  of  day  began  to  open  on  the  13th  of 
June  1890,  the  college  bell  began  to  toll.  As  soon 
as  I  heard  it,  I  said  to  my  wife  that  I  feared  Dr. 
McAfee  was  dead.      I  had  been    with    him    a  good 


Park  College  and  my  relations  to  it  215 

deal  during  the  week.  The  preceding  afternoon  I 
had  said  to  a  friend,  "I  should  not  be  surprised  if 
he  should  drop  off  at  any  moment."  I  dressed  and 
went  out  on  the  street,  and  met  the  President's  son 
Lapsley  coming  to  inform  me  that  his  father  had 
died  before  midnight.  Commencement  week  began 
with  the  burial  of  Mr.  Park  and  ended  with  the 
death  of  my  other  co-worker  in  the  beginning  of 
Park  College.  They  embalmed  his  body  and  ap- 
pointed the  Monday  following  for  the  funeral. 

As  president,  I  called  a  special  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  to  be  held  in  Parkville  on  Mon- 
day, June  i6th,  at  11  o'clock.  After  organizing, 
I  handed  the  secretary  the  following  resolutions 
which  were  read  and  adopted: 

"Resolved,  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Park 
College,  That  in  Rev.  J.  A.  McAfee  D.D.  we  have 
an  example  of  one,  who  though  rich  in  natural 
and  acquired  endowments  yet,  for  the  sake  of 
giving  a  Christian  education  to  poor,  deserving 
youth,  he  so  knew  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  that  he  made  himself  poor  that  others 
might  become  rich  in  Christian  training. 

"Resolved,  That  in  the  prosecution  of  his  self- 
denying  work  "his  faith  staggered  not  at  the  prom- 
ises of  God,"  for  it  mattered  not  how  many  obsta- 
cles appeared,  yet  his  faith  rose  superior  to  them 
all,  and  he  ceased  not  to  wrestle  in  prayer. 


2i6  i'^ifly  Years  07i  the  Skirmish  Line 

"Resolved,  As  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  a  col- 
lege that  was  begun  in  prayer  and  self-denial,  and 
has  been  sustained  by  faith  in  God's  daily  care, 
we  do  pledge  anew  our  fidelity  to  the  work  to 
which  we  have  been  called.  Trusting  alone  in 
God,  we  will  labor  to  rear  on  the  foundation  already 
laid,  a  structure  that  will  outlast  the  lives  of  its 
founders  and  bless  the  coming  ages. 

"Resolved,  That  with  thanksgiving  we  learn  of 
the  determination  of  Mrs.  McAfee  and  her  sons  to 
take  up  the  mantle  fallen  from  the  husband  and 
father,  and  stand  in  his  place  in  the  care  of  the 
family.  We  do  hereby  express  our  full  confidence 
in  them  and  their  ability  to  successfully  maintain 
the  work. 

"Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be 
presented  to  Mrs.  McAfee  and  family,  also  that 
these  resolutions  be  sent  to  our  Church  papers  and 
the  papers  of  Parkville,  Kansas  City  and  St. 
Joseph." 

The  Board  then  adjourned  and  attended  the 
funeral  of  President  McAfee,  acting  as  honorary 
pall-bearers.  A  mournful  procession  bore  his 
body  to  the  cemetery  and  laid  it  near  where  we 
laid  the  body  of  Mr.  Park  a  week  before.  If 
flowers  were  the  expression  of  affection  for  the 
departed  President,  surely  he  was    much    beloved. 

In  August,  1890,  died  another  of  our  co-laborers 


Park  College  a?id  my  relations  to  it  217 

of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  our  secretary  since  our 
incorporation,  Mr.  Jonathan  Ford  of  Kansas  City, 
an  elder  in  the  Second  Church.  He  is  missed  by 
the  Board,  missed  in  the  college,  and  especially 
missed  by  the  poor  of  Kansas    City. 

When  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  College  met 
in  June  1892,  the  following  communication  was 
received  from  the  faculty: 

"To  the  Board  of  Trustees: 

"In  consideration  of  his  long,  valiant  and  suc- 
cessful service  in  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  of  his  unwearied  devotion  to 
the  affairs  of  Park  College  from  its  founding,  the 
faculty  of  Park  College  recommend  that  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  be  conferred 
upon  the  Rev.  Elisha  B.  Sherwood." 

This  recommendation  was  a  surprise  to  me.  No 
honorary  degrees  had  been  granted  by  the  college, 
and  the  adoption  of  the  recommendation  was  an 
added  pleasure.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day 
notice  came  that  the  Highland  University  of  High- 
land, Kansas,  had  conferred  upon  me  the  same 
degree.  This  was  even  more  of  a  surprise  to  me 
than  the  first  and  was  highly  appreciated. 

In  conclusion,  the  writer  of  this  sketch  is  truly 
thankful  to  the  great  Captain,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  that  he  was  counted  worthy  to  be  called  to 
the  services  he  has  rendered  on  the    skirmish    line 


2i8  ^0y  y^ars  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

which  are  herein  portrayed.  He  is  thankful  for 
that  drill  which  endued  him  with  moral  courage 
which  feared  not  hard  cases  nor  shunned  hard 
places,  for  the  armor  of  righteousness  which  enabled 
him  to  stand  in  the  evil  day,  for  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit  which  has  been  his  only  weapon  of  defense, 
for  the  effectual  fervent  prayer  which  has  availed 
much.  Above  all,  he  thanks  the  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Spirit  for  the  gospel  which  he  has  been  ena- 
bled to  preach  to  the  saving  of  precious  souls. 


I 


SERMON  I. 

Acts  i:8. —  "Ye  shall  receive  power,  after  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is 
come  upon  you;  and  ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me  both  in  Jerusa- 
lem and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  unto  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth," 

The  last  words  of  a  departing  friend  or  a  dying 
parent  have  a  charm  that  impresses  them  upon 
memory  and  makes  us  dehght  to  recall  them.  The 
text  is  the  closing  words  of  their  ascending  Lord 
to  His  sorrowing  disciples.  There  are  two  thoughts 
in  the  text  that  are  very  precious:  The  promise  of 
power  from  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  assurance  that 
they  should  be  Christ's  witnesses. 

The  power  from  the  Holy  Ghost  was  indispensa- 
ble to  qualify  them  to  take  up  the  work  Christ  had 
given  them  to  do.  Matthew  designates  it  "teach- 
ing the  nations."  Mark  invests  it  with  the  author- 
ity of  a  command:  "Preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature."  Luke  defines  it  as  "preaching  repentance 
and  remission  of  sins  in  the  name  of  Jesus  among 
all  nations."  Our  Lord  in  the  text  calls  it  witness- 
ing unto  Him.  Whatever  name  you  give  the  work, 
it  is  great.      Who  is  sufficient  for  it?     The  apostles 

were     not.       Notwithstanding,     they     had     been 

219 


220  i^ifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

specially  chosen  for  it,  and  by  our  Lord  instructed 
and  commissioned  to  undertake  it.  Said  He  to 
them:  "You  need  a  power  which  nothing  but  the 
Holy  Ghost  can  impart  to  you;  therefore  tarry  ye 
in  the  city  of  Jerusalem  until  ye  be  endued  with 
power  from  on  high."  In  the  context  they  are  com- 
manded "not  to  depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  wait 
for  the  promise  of  the  Father  which,  saith  He,  ye 
have  heard  of  Me."  "Ye  shall  be  baptized  with 
the  Holy  Ghost  not  many  days  hence." 

But  there  was  one  thing  that  had  so  taken  pos- 
session of  the  apostles'  minds  that  the  "promise  of 
the  Father"  was  not  appreciated.  It  was  this: 
"Lord,  wilt  thou  not  at  this  time  restore  again 
the  kingdom  to  Israel.''"  To  which  He  replied,  I 
have  something  better  for  you  than  the  kingdom 
restored.  It  is  not  for  you  to  know  the  times  and 
seasons  which  the  Father  hath  put  in  His  own 
power.  The  Holy  Ghost  coming  upon  you  shall  be 
better  for  you  than  the  restored  kingdom.  When 
He  had  spoken  these  things,  while  they  beheld, 
Luke  says  while  He  blessed  them,  in  the  very  act 
of  imparting  a  blessing  to  them,  He  was  parted 
from  them  and  carried  up  into  heaven.  All  their 
hopes  of  the  restoration  of  the  kingdom  to  Israel 
were  now  blasted.  They  were  shut  up  to  lay  hold 
of  the  "promise  of  the  Father." 

They  return  to   Jerusalem    and    gather    in    that 


Sermon  i  221 

upper  room  and  wait  for  the  promised  baptism  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  "not  many  days  hence."  They 
continue  with  one  accord  in  prayer  and  supplication 
with  the  women.  Day  after  day  they  tarry  in  that 
upper  chamber,  waiting  on  God.  They  stagger  not 
at  the  promise  of  God  through  unbelief.  They 
are  strong  in  faith.  They  are  fully  persuaded  that 
what  God  had  promised  He  is  able  to  perform. 

The  first  day  passed  and  there  was  no  power. 
The  second,  the  third,  the  fourth,  the  fifth,  the 
sixth — and  no  answer  yet.  The  seventh  is  the  for- 
tunate day  in  the  Hebrew  calendar.  "Surely  the 
Holy  Ghost  will  come  to  us  to-day,"  and  the 
seventh  was  passed  in  prayer  and  supplication — yet 
no  answer.  "Wait  thou  only  on  God."  They 
clung  closer  to  the  promise  and  would  not  let  the 
angel  of  the  covenant  go.  "When  the  day  of 
Pentecost" — the  fiftieth  from  our  Lord's  crucifixion 
and  the  tenth  since  His  ascension — "was  fully  come, 
they  were  all  with  one  accord  in  one  place.  And 
suddenly  there  came  a  sound  from  heaven  as  of  a 
rushing  mighty  wind,  and  it  filled  all  the  house 
where  they  were  sitting."  We  know  not  which  of 
the  disciples  was  praying  when  the  answer  came. 
We  have  often  thought  that  it  would  have  rejoiced 
us  to  have  been  in  that  meeting.  It  was  a  wonder- 
ful scene.  There  was  nothing  like  it  ever  before. 
There  has  been  no  nieeting  like  it  since.     Peter 


222  ^ifty  y^cifs  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

looked  up  and  saw  on  John's  forehead  a  lambent 
flame  of  fire.  John  saw  the  same  flame  resting 
upon  Peter,  and  as  they  looked  from  one  to  the 
other,  there  appeared  "cloven  tongues  like  as  of 
fire,  and  it  sat  upon  each  of  them."  "And  they 
were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost."  The  living 
God  was  in  contact  with  those  one  hundred  and 
twenty,  Himself  teaching  and  loving  while  they 
learned  and  loved.  This  truth  was  then  and  there 
illustrated,  that  God  does  work  with  men  directly 
and  specially,  and  that  He  does  reveal  Himself 
unto  His  children  in  such  a  manner  that  the  hum- 
blest of  them  are  wiser  than  the  most  learned  of 
unregenerated  men.  It  was  there  proved  that  the 
God  of  life  does  take  His  chosen  ones  into  such  re- 
lations with  Himself  that  the  soul  is  born  again, 
new-formed,  re-created. 

Such  was  the  power  coming  upon  the  disciples 
which  prepared  them  to  be  witnesses  for  Jesus. 
They  now  "began  to  speak  with  other  tongues  as 
the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance."  What  a  change 
the  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost  wrought  upon  these 
hitherto  timid  disciples!  They  were  true  witnesses 
unto  Him.  Beholding  the  power  that  had  come 
upon  them,  the  people  were  amazed,  "saying  one 
to  another,  "What  meaneth  this.?"  Others  mocking 
said,  "These  men  are  full  of  new  wine."  Peter, 
standing  up  with  the  eleven,  showed  them  that  men 


Sermon  i  223 

did  not  get  drunk  on  new  wine  at  nine  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  "This  is  that  which  was  spoken  by 
the  prophet  Joel:  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the 
last  days,  saith  God,  I  will  pour  out  of  my  Spirit 
upon  all  flesh."  The  last  days  spoken  of  by  Joel 
have  come,  the  Spirit  is  poured  out.  What  you 
see  is  the  result.  He  then  demonstrated  to  them 
that  Jesus  was  the  Messiah  and  concluded  his  testi- 
mony with  the  words  of  the  36th  verse  of  the 
second  chapter  of  Acts:  "Therefore  let  all  the 
house  of  Israel  know  assuredly,  that  God  hath 
made  that  same  Jesus,  whom  ye  have  crucified, 
both  Lord  and  Christ." 

The  thousands  of  the  house  of  Israel  could  not 
resist  such  testimony.  It  pricked  them  to  the  heart 
and  they  "said  unto  Peter  and  the  rest  of  the 
apostles,  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we  do?" 
This  is  the  very  Christ.  His  blood  is  on  us  and 
on  our  children.  Then  said  Peter  unto  them. 
There  is  only  one  thing  you  can  do,  "repent  and 
be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins."  By  being  bap- 
tized in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  you  confess  your 
faith  in  Him  as  the  Messiah.  Thus  accepting 
Christ,  God  will  accept  you  as  true  penitents  and 
will  grant  you  remission  of  sins.  As  evidence  that 
you  are  forgiven,  you  "shall  receive  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,"  the  witness  of  the    Spirit   witnessing 


224  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

that  you  are  born  again,  created  anew  in  Christ 
Jesus.  As  the  effect  of  Peter  witnessing  for  Christ, 
many  gladly  received  the  word  and  three  thousand 
confessed  Christ  in  the  sacrament  of  baptism  and 
were  added  to  the  church  the  same  day.  Such  was 
the  result  of  the  first  day's  work  for  Jesus  after 
the  Holy  Ghost  had  come  upon  them.  The  next 
recorded  day's  work  gave  them  five  thousand,  and 
in  less  than  thirty-three  years  they  literally  turned 
the  world  upside-down,  so  mightily  did  they  wit- 
ness for  Jesus. 

This  leads  us  to  this  important  truth:  that  power 
communicated  to  the  one  hundred  and  twenty  on 
the  day  of  Pentecost  by  the  coming  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  upon  them  is  just  as  essential  to  us  as  it  was 
to  them  in  order  that  Christ  may  now  have  a  wit- 
nessing church.  The  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
was  the  secret  of  their  wonderful  power  in  prayer 
and  in  the  preaching  of  the  word.  The  same 
power  will  give  the  same  efficiency  to  those  who 
witness  for  Christ  that  the  apostles  possessed. 
We  use  the  word  "essential"  here  understandingly. 
We  mean  by  the  statement  that  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  is  just  as  necessary  to  the  constitution 
and  existence  of  the  church  now  as  it  was  when  our 
Savior  spoke  those  last  words  to  His  disciples. 
Before  the  Holy  Ghost  came  upon  them  they  had 
no  clearer  ideas  of  the  spiritual  nature    of  Christ's 


Sermon  i  225 

kingdom  than  Nicodemus  had  of  the  new  birth. 
Even  after  our  Lord  had  commanded  them  not  to 
depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  wait  for  the  baptism  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  what  was  their  first  question  on 
being  assembled  with  their  Lord  in  this  last  inter- 
view  with  Him  on  earth?  "Lord,  wilt  thou  at  this 
time  restore  again  the  kingdom  to  Israel?"  Out  of 
the  abundance  of  their  hearts  they  spoke.  They 
were  full  of  the  subject  of  the  restoration  of  the 
kingdom  to  Israel.  The  command  not  to  depart 
from  Jerusalem  until  they  were  endued  with  power 
from  on  high  had  made  no  impression  on  their 
minds.  They  wished  the  Roman  yoke  broken  and 
their  Lord  seated  on  the  throne  of  David.  Some 
of  them  were  doubtless  expecting  a  good  place  in 
His  cabinet  and  others  hoped  for  a  foreign  appoint- 
ment. It  was  when  their  Lord  went  up  on  high 
that  it  first  broke  upon  their  minds  that  Christ's 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  world.  "The  natural  man 
receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God." 
This  great  fact  is  confirmed  in  the  experience  of 
every  natural  man.  The  reason  why  the  natural 
man  does  not  receive  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  is  found  in  the  fact  that  we  are  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins.  Men  are  insensible  to  spiritual 
truths  as  dead  men  are  to  passing  events.  It  is 
only  when  they  are  quickened  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  coming  upon  them  that  they  are  raised 


226  Fifty  Years  07i  the  Skirmish  Line 

out  of  their  graves  of  sin  and  come  to  understand 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  It  is  the  Spirit  that 
quickeneth.  "Now  we  have  not  received  the  spirit 
of  the  world  but  the  spirit  which  is  of  God,  that 
we  might  know  the  things  that  are  freely  given  us 
of  God;  which  things  also  we  speak,  not  in  the 
words  which  man's  wisdom  teacheth,  but  which 
the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth,  comparing  spiritual  things 
with  spiritual."  We  witness  for  Christ  only  so  far 
as  the  Holy  Ghost  has  taught  us.  "Howbeit,  when 
He,  the  Spirit  of  truth  is  come.  He  will  guide  you 
into  all  truth,  for  He  shall  not  speak  of  Himself, 
but  whatsoever  He  shall  hear,  that  shall  He  speak, 
and  He  will  show  you  things  to  come.  He  shall 
glorify  me,  for  He  shall  receive  of  mine  and  show 
it  unto  you." 

Obedience  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  is  the  first 
condition  of  knowing  it.  "If  any  man  will  do  His 
will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine."  Saul  of  Tarsus 
was  in  great  doubt  whether  Jesus  was  indeed  the 
Christ.  As  soon  as  he  submitted  himself  to  Christ 
to  do  His  will,  he  came  to  know  the  truth  and  the 
truth  made  him  free.  To  know  Christ  and  His 
resurrection  became  the  master-thought  of  his 
master-mind.  Christ  so  dwelt  in  his  heart  by  faith 
that  he  was  rooted  and  grounded  in  love  and  was 
able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints  what  is  the 
breadth  and  length  and  depth   and   height   and   to 


Sermon  I  21"] 

know  the  love  of  Christ  that  passeth  knowledge, 
that  he  might  be  filled  with  the  fullness  of  God. 
It  was  this  wonderful  knowledge  that  enabled  Paul 
to  utter  those  precious  sayings  of  the  power  of  this 
glorious  gospel,  such  as  are  found  in  the  Acts  and 
his  epistles.  For  example:  "I  am  not  ashamed 
of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  for  it  is  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth."  The 
power  of  this  gospel  to  save  is  limited  only  by  want 
of  faith.  To  him  that  believeth,  all  things  are 
possible.  This  gospel  not  only  possessed  power  to 
save,  but  gave  Paul  great  peace  with  God  and  set 
him  free  from  condemnation;  for  the  spirit  of  life 
in  Christ  Jesus  had  made  him  free  from  the  law  of 
sin  and  death.  This  gospel  bound  him  to  Christ 
by  a  tie  that  "neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angel_s, 
nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present, 
nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any 
other  creature"  could  sever.  Such  a  living  witness 
for  Christ  carried  with  him  a  power  that  convinced 
both  Jews  and  Gentiles  that  it  was  "a  faithful  say- 
ing and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus 
came  unto  the  world  to  save  sinners."  It  is  such 
a  practical  knowledge  of  Christ  that  gives  power  to 
His  gospel  to-day.  The  Rev.  George  Muller,  of 
Bristol,  England,  speaking  of  a  certain  period  of 
his  life,  characterizes  thus:  "Since  I  came  to 
know  the  Lord."     What  we  want  is  to    know    the 


228  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirtnish  Line 

Lord.  We  want  to  know  the  power  of  an  indwell- 
ing God.  We  want  so  to  live  that  friends  and  foes 
will  know  that  it  is  the  Spirit  of  God  who  speaks  in 
us. 

We  need  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  not  only 
that  we  may  witness  from  a  knowledge  of  Christ's 
work  upon  our  hearts,  but  also  to  enable  us  to 
teach  transgressors  God's  ways  that  sinners  may  be 
converted.  The  ministry  should  be  the  outgrowth 
of  the  church  and  in  full  sympathy  with  it.  Con- 
sequently, a  witnessing  church  will  demand  a  wit- 
nessing ministry.  Before  we  can  help  sinners  out 
of  the  horrible  pit  and  miry  clay,  our  feet  must 
stand  upon  the  Rock  of  Ages.  Hence  the  great 
number  of  ministers  and  Sabbath-School  teachers 
who,  while  they  teach  transgressors  God's  ways, 
fail  to  lead  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world.  They  know  more  of 
Sinai  than  of  Calvary.  The  love  of  God  shed  abroad 
in  the  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost  is  the  essential 
power  that  enables  us  to  lead  sinners  to  Christ. 
Hence  the  prayer  of  the  Psalmist:  "Restore  unto 
me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation;  and  uphold  me  with 
thy  free  Spirit."  From  joys  of  salvation  and  the 
upholdings  of  God's  Spirit  comes  that  hope  that 
maketh  not  ashamed. 

We  are  not   only    to    hear  the   word   at    God's 
mouth,  but  we  are  to  give  the  people  warning  from 


Sermon  I  229 

God.  The  charge  is  to  speak  with  God's  words 
unto  them.  We  are  not  at  liberty  to  say,  "Thus 
saith  the  Lord,"  when  we  have  drawn  our  sermons 
from  German  philosophy  or  have  spun  them  out 
of  our  own  vain  imaginations.  "The  prophet  that 
hath  a  dream,  let  him  tell  a  dream;  and  he  that 
hath  my  word,  let  him  speak  it  faithfully.  What 
is  the  chaff  to  the  wheat?  saith  the  Lord.  Is  not 
my  word  like  as  a  fire?  saith  the  Lord;  and  like  a 
hammer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces?"  There 
are  those  to  whom  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  is  a 
stumbling-block  and  to  others  it  is  foolishness.  In 
the  language  of  the  Narrative  of  the  State  of  Re- 
ligion in  the  Bounds  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States  (1884):  "In  these  skeptical 
times,  when  skepticism  is  in  the  air  and  when,  to 
a  degree  that  few  of  us  are  perhaps  willing  to 
admit,  skeptical  doubts  are  troubling  the  minds  of 
vast  numbers  of  the  people,  it  behooves  us  who 
hold  the  truth  of  Jesus  Christ  to  hold  fast.  It  is 
no  time  for  speculations,  apologies  and  compro- 
mises. The  Bible  is  the  inspired  word  of  God  or  it 
is  not.  If  it  is  not,  it  is  of  no  more  authority  to 
us  than  the  Mohammedan  Koran  or  the  Hindu 
Shasters,  and  Jesus  Christ  and  redemption,  heaven 
and  hell,  are  delusions  and  lies.  But  if  it  is,  its 
revelation  and  doctrines  are  true  and  infinitely 
mportant.     We  believe  it  is,   we  know  it  is.     And 


230  i^ifiy  Years  07i  the  Skirmish  Line 

we  who  preach  its  doctrines  should  preach  them 
confidently,  boldly,  aggressively.  It  is  to  be  feared 
that  in  some  of  our  pulpits  this  is  not  done.  It  is 
to  be  feared  that  some  of  our  preachers  ignore  the 
bone  and  sinew,  the  marrow  and  fatness,  of  the 
gospel  and  preach  only  or  chiefly  the  glittering 
generalities  of  a  sentimental  religion  that  makes  a 
mockery  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  And  it  is  to  be 
feared  that  some  of  our  people  have  lost  their  love 
for  and  their  faith  in  the  glorious  old  saving  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel  as  they  are  embodied  in  our 
Confession  and  the  catechisms,  and  so  have  lost 
all  relish  for  them  themselves  and  all  desire  to 
teach  them  to  their  children." 

Where  there  is  a  disposition  to  let  down  the 
standard  of  Bible  truth,  it  is  evidence  that  such 
persons  do  not  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it. 
We  shall  be  saved  through  a  belief  of  the  truth. 
Those  who  are  damned  will  be  lost  because  they 
did  not  believe  the  truth.  Those  who  in  the  end 
perish,  do  so  because  they  receive  not  the  truth  in 
the  love  of  it.  For  this  cause  Gpd  sends  strong 
delusions  to  the  rejectors  of  truth  that  they  might 
be  damned  because  they  had  pleasure  in  unright- 
eousness. The  great  inquiry,  then,  is.  What  is 
truth.?  Christ  is  the  truth  and  the  life.  Let  us 
believe,  receive  and  confess  Him  that  all  His  salva- 
tion may  know.     It  is  not  sufficient  to  believe  that 


Ser7?ion  i  231 

He  was  the  best  man    that    ever    was    born   of    a 
woman.     We  must  beheve  that  He  was  God  as  well 
as  man,  that  He  died  for  our  sins  and  arose  'again 
for  our    justification,  that    "we    have    redemption 
through  His  blood,  even  the  forgiveness   of   sins." 
"When  the  Comforter  is  come  whom    I   will   send 
unto  you  from  the  Father,  even  the  Spirit  of  truth, 
which  proceedeth  from  the  Father,  He  shall  testify 
of  me."     "Hereby  know    ye    the    Spirit    of    God: 
Every  spirit  that  confesseth   that    Jesus    Christ    is 
come  in  the  flesh  is  of  God;   and  every  spirit  that 
confesseth  not  that  Jesus    Christ    is    come   in   the 
flesh  is  not  of  God.      And  this  is  that  spirit  of  anti- 
Christ  whereof  ye  have  heard  that  it  should  come, 
and  even  now  already  is  it  in  the  world."     Yes,  he 
is  in  the  world.      He  has  entered  our  pulpits,  and 
through  the  press    he    lifts   his   hydra   head.      His 
coming  is    after    the    working    of    Satan    with    all 
power  and  "with  all  deceivableness  of  unrighteous- 
ness in  all  them  that  perish  because  they   received 
not  the   love    of    the    truth    that    they    might    be 
saved."     When  a  person  lets  goof  the  simple  truth 
as  it  is  revealed  in  the    scriptures    of    the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,  he  knows  not    whither    he    may 
drift. 

We  are  just  in  those  times  when  the  church  needs 
power  from  above.  It  is  marvelous  how  our  best 
men  have  overlooked  the  true  source  of  the  church's 


232  ^ipy  y<'"aj's  071  the  Skirmish  Line 

power.  In  the  examination  of  candidates  for  the 
ministry,  how  many  are  ever  asked  the  question, 
Have  you  been  endowed  with  power  from  on  high? 
Have  you  felt  that  power  coming  upon  you  that 
carries  you  out  of  yourself  and  above  yourself,  that 
gives  the  Word  of  God  edge,  that  makes  it  prick 
men  in  the  heart,  that  begets  in  you  an  agonizing 
spirit  of  prayer  and  enables  you  to  wrestle  with 
God  until  the  blessing  comes?  In  selecting  your 
sermons,  do  you  first  go  to  God  and  get  your  ear 
so  near  His  mouth  that  you  hear  what  God  speaks; 
and  when  you  have  a  message  from  God  do  you 
deliver  it  as  from  God?  If  not,  your  thoughts  may 
be  very  beautiful  and  your  logic  very  clear  and  your 
rhetoric  fine  and  men  may  praise  your  effort,  but  it 
will  be  powerless  to  save  souls  from  the  power  of 
sin.  Such  should  tarry  in  some  upper  chamber 
until  they  are  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Suppose  Paul  should  meet  the  masses  of  enrolled 
church  members  and  put  the  same  question  as  to 
the  members  of  the  church  of  Ephesus  as  recorded 
in  Acts  19:1 — "Have  ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost 
since  ye  believed?"  How  many  would  be  com- 
pelled to  give  the  same  answer  as  the  Ephesian 
members:  "We  have  not  so  much  as  heard  wheter 
there  be  any  Holy  Ghost."  Is  He  not  promised 
to  all  who  repent  and  are  baptized  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission    of  sins?     Acts  2:38 


Sermon  I  233 

— "In  whom  also  after  that  ye  beheved,  ye  were 
sealed  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise  which  is 
the  earnest  of  our  inheritance  until  the  redemption 
of  the  purchased  possession  unto  the  praise  of  His 
glory."  Eph.  1:13,  14 — "Know  ye  not  that  ye  are 
the  temple  of  God  and  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
dwelleth  in  you?"  These  are  truths  which  Chris- 
tians are  supposed  to  know  and  witness  to.  Herein 
consists  the  power  of  the  church:  "as  lively  stones 
ye  are  built  up  a  spiritual  house,  an  holy  priest- 
hood to  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices  acceptable  to 
God  by  Jesus  Christ,"  "in  whom  all  the  building  fitly 
framed  together  groweth  unto  an  holy  temple  in 
the  Lord;  in  whom  ye  also  are  builded  together 
for  an  habitation  of  God  through  the  Spirit." 

We  see  what  is  wanted  to  stay  the  tide  of  skep- 
ticism that  is  setting  in  upon  our  churches: 

First,  a  ministry  that  has  received  power  because 
the  Holy  Ghost  has  come  upon  it.  There  is  noth- 
ing like  the  simple  truth  of  the  Scripture,  spoken 
in  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  power,  to 
overcome  the  unbelief  of  the  sinful  heart  and  the 
power  of  sin  in  the  world.  The  curse  of  the  min- 
istry is  that  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  too 
many  have  been  drawing  their  inspiration  from 
German  philosophy  rather  than  from  the  word  of 
God.  We  are  now  beginning  to  reap  the  fruits  of 
such  a  philosophy.      Many  of  our  theological  pro- 


234  -^^Py  y^^^^  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

fessors  are  more  or  less  tinctured  with  rationalism 
and  are  not  prepared  to  denounce  the  incipient 
infidelity.  A  great  number,  especially  of  the 
younger  ministers,  are  making  their  sermons  on 
the  literary  models  of  Anglican  and  American 
preachers  of  high  intellect,  but  more  than  question- 
able soundness.  Thus  straining  to  be  intellectual, 
they  vitiate  the  truth.  They  do  not  preach  Christ 
Himself  as  our  living  Head,  and  His  cross  as  the 
Spirit's  cure  for  worldliness  in  Christ's  church.  By 
thus  letting  down  the  testimony  of  our  Lord  and 
avoiding  the  offense  of  the  cross,  there  has  come  to 
be  a  strange  mixing  up  of  the  church  and  the  world 
in  every  conceivable  form,  as  if  it  were  the  church's 
mission  to  attract  the  world  to  itself  in  all  its  world- 
liness, denying  the  deep  difference  between  the 
church  and  the  world,  or  that  our  Lord  had  ever 
said,  ^'Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon."  The 
country  is  full  of  such  preaching;  but  where  is 
Christ?  He  is  all  but  unknown  as  the  Holy  Ghost 
has  revealed  Him  in  the  word  of  God.  What 
kind  of  witnesses  are  such  professors.?  And  what 
deliverances  from  the  power  of  sin  can  be  expected 
where  Christ  is  not  known  as  a  Savior  from  sin.!* 

Secondly,  we  need  a  witnessing  church,  one  that 
knows  the  truth  and  has  experienced  its  saving 
power.  We  need  a  church  whose  faith  does  not 
stand  in  the  wisdom  of  men  but   in   the    power    of 


Sertnon  i  235 

God,  a  church  that  knows  whom  it  has  beHeved, 
that  has  passed  from  death  unto  Hfe,  a  church  that 
has  presented  its  body  a  Hving  sacrifice,  holy, 
acceptable  unto  God  which  is  its  reasonable  ser- 
vice, a  church  that  is  not  conformed  to  the  world, 
but  is  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  its  mind 
that  it  may  prove  what  is  that  good  and  perfect 
will  of  God.  Such  a  church  is  a  commendation  of 
religion  that  skepticism  cannot  resist.  Such  living 
witnesses  to  our  religion  will  do  more  to  convert 
sinners  from  the  error  of  their  ways  than  all  the 
sermons  ever  drawn  from  German  philosophy. 

Ye  shall  have  power.  Has  it  come  upon  you.-* 
If  not,  wait  for  it.  It  is  your  privilege  to  have  it. 
God  gives  it  without  measure.  To  him  that  be- 
lieveth,  all  things  are  possible. 


SERMON  II. 

Luke  19:10 — "For  the  Son  of  Man  is  come  to  seek  and   to  save 
that    which  is  lost," 

Our  text  is  the  reason  why  our  Lord  was  the 
guest  of  Zaccheus.  Jesus  of  Nazareth  in  His 
search  for  the  lost,  passed  through  Jericho.  There 
was  one,  who  was  chief  among  a  despised  class, 
who  had  a  strong  desire  to  see  Him.  To  gratify 
this  desire,  he  climbed  into  a  sycamore  tree  and 
seated  himself  upon  one  of  the  branches.  When  a 
person  is  in  earnest  to  see  Jesus,  you  will  see  him 
use  just  the  means  to  accomplish  his  object. 
Christ  knew  his  state  of  mind  and  looking  up,  said 
to  him,  "Zaccheus,  make  haste,  and  come  down; 
for  to-day  I  must  abide  at  thy  house."  "And  he 
made  haste,  and  came  down,  and  received  Him 
joyfully.  And  when  they  saw  it,  they  all  mur- 
mured, saying,  That  He  was  gone  to  be  guest  with 
a  man  that  was  a  sinner." 

As  He  entered  Zaccheus'  house,  what  a  blessing 

He  brought    with   Him!     "This   day   is   salvation 

come  to  this  house,"  for  this  man  is  a   child  of  the 

covenant;   he  is  Abraham's  son.     This  is  my  mis- 

236 


Sermon  ii  237 

sion.  "I  am  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which 
was  lost."  Zaccheus  was  a  lost  man,  but  now  he 
has  salvation.  He  now  acts  like  a  new  man.  He 
did  love  money,  was  grasping  after  the  world;  he 
now  divides  with  Christ  and  His  poor.  More:  if 
anything  that  I  call  mine  own  was  obtained  by 
false  accusation,  I  restore  fourfold.  They  all 
murmured  that  He  had  gone  to  be  guest  with  such 
a  man.  The  Friend  of  sinners  thought  He  was 
doing  the  very  work  for  which  He  came  into  the 
world,  to  seek  and  save  just  such  sinners  as 
Zaccheus. 

Prejudice  against  certain  classes  in  society  is  a 
great  barrier  to  doing  good.  If  the  Son  of  Man 
had  to  meet  it  in  seeking  and  saving  the  lost,  all 
that  engage  in  like  work  will  have  like  obstacles  to 
encounter.  It  matters  not  how  penitent  a  sinner 
may  be  or  how  much  he  is  disposed  to  do  right  and 
make  restitution  for  the  wrongs  he  may  have  done, 
he  has  done  thus  and  so,  or  she  has  done  thus  and 
this — we  cannot  receive  them  into  our  circle,  they 
must  not  be  admitted  to  our  society.  Why!  they 
live  in  such  a  street;  none  of  the  better  classes 
live  in  that  part  of  town;  they  cannot  maintain  our 
style;  they  cannot  pay  pew  rent  in  our  church; 
they  will  be  like  pauper  members  if  they  come 
among  us.  There  are  others  who  say,  Why 
attempt  to  build  up  churches  among   that   class  of 


238  Fifty  Years  on  the  Sktr?Hish  Line 

society?  They  will  have  to  be  carried  by  the 
boards  of  the  church.  We  meet  all  this  prejudice 
against  the  poor,  and  these  distinctions  that  the 
"tony"  ones  would  introduce  into  the  church-  of 
the  living  God,  with  the  words  of  the  text:  "The 
Son  of  Man  is  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which 
was  lost." 

The  question  is  this:  Shall  we  leave  men  and 
women  in  their  sins  to  corrupt  themselves  with 
their  vices  and  sink  deeper  and  still  deeper  into  all 
the  evils  that  sin  and  misery  bring  upon  the  human 
family,  or  shall  we  go  to  them  with  the  gospel,  the 
Sabbath  School  and  God's  appointed  means,  to 
lift  them  from  the  horrible  pit  and  the  miry  clay 
and  set  their  feet  upon  the  rock  and  start  them  in 
the  race  for  immortality  and  eternal  life?  We  take 
the  latter  alternative  decidedly.  Our  Lord  made 
no  distmction  in  persons.  It  was  the  lost  whom 
He  came  to  seek  and  save.  It  mattered  not 
whether  it  was  a  paralytic  who  had  to  be  borne  of 
four,  or  he  who  had  laid  at  the  pool  of  Bethesda 
for  thirty  and  eight  years,  or  the  leper  who  was  by 
the  law  of  Moses  ceremonially  unclean  and  so  loath- 
some that  he  was  shut  out  from  society,  or  the 
adulterous  woman  taken  in  the  very  act,  the  blind 
beggar  or  the  rich  publican.  His  mission  was  to 
seek  and  save  them  because  they  were  lost. 

What  is  lost?    The  soul!     In  what  sense    is  the 


Ser  171071  II  239 

soul  lost?  Not  the  loss  of  existence.  The  sentence 
upon  the  first  transgressors  was,  "Dying,  thou  shalt 
die."  Death  in  sin  is  to  suffer  a  living  death.  The 
rich  man  in  hell,  as  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  called 
for  water,  gives  us  a  literal  idea  of  a  death  in  sin. 
"Tormented  in  this  flame,"  was  his  expression  of 
it.  "These  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punish- 
ment." Such  is  the  loss  of  the  soul  whom  Jesus 
is  seeking  to  save.  The  loss  is  of  zvell-beiiig,  the 
loss  of  the  object  of  our  being.  What  is  the  chief 
end  of  man?  Not  to  get  greenbacks,  or  bonds, 
and  so  on.  It  is  "to  glorify  God  and  to  enjoy  Him 
forever."  To  be  lost  is  to  be  cast  away  as  when  a 
vessel  is  lost  at  sea,  wrecked,  stranded,  sunk  like 
lead  in  the  mighty  waters.  To  be  lost  is  to  be 
ruined,  undone,  utterly  perish. 

There  are  two  ideas  involved  in  the  term  "lost": 

First,  The  loss  of  all  the  good  that  the  soul  is 
capable  of  enjoying  in  this  life  and  also  in  that 
which  is  to  come. 

Second,  The  loss  of  pardon.  Guilt  is  the  una- 
voidable attendant  of  the  sinner.  "There  is  no 
peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the  wicked."  Pardon  blots 
out  sin  and  removes  all  consciousness  of  guilt  and 
restores  the  life  of  God  to  the  soul.  The  loss  of 
the  soul  is  the  loss  of  this  pardon. 

It  is  the  loss  of  holiness  without  which  no  man 
shall  see  God  in  peace.      It    is  the  loss  of  a  crown 


240  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

of  glory,  the  palm  of  victory,  of  an  inheritance  in- 
corruptible, undefiled  and  that  fadeth  not  away. 
To  be  lost  is  to  be  shut  out  of  heaven,  to  be  shut 
off  from  hope.  It  is  the  loss  of  all  good  and  the 
endurance  of  all  evil  and  misery  which  the  soul  is 
capable  of  suffering.  Who  can  tell  how  much  this 
is?  We  know  that  sin  and  misery  are  in  close 
proximity  to  each  other.  Misery  is  the  outgrowth 
of  sin.  They  go  hand  in  hand.  No  one  knows 
what  a  soul  endures  in  this  world  under  the  lashings 
of  conscience  and  the  corrodings  of  guilt.  What  a 
loss  to  be  where  there  is  no  eye  to  pity,  no  cordial 
to  relieve,  no  ray  of  hope  to  cheer,  where  justice 
and  self-condemning  guilt  consign  the  lost  soul  to 
the  perdition  of  the  ungodly!  Such  is  the  loss  of 
the  soul.  Dear  hearer,  the  loss  of  your  soul  is  your 
own  loss,  your  own  voluntary  act.  The  terrible 
truth  that  will  pierce  the  soul  with  the  keenest  an- 
guish, is,  I  have  destroyed  myself!  Who  can  cal- 
culate the  loss  of  one  soul,  or  what  shall  a  man 
give  in  exchange  for  his  soul!  It  is  an  irreparable 
loss.  A  person  may  lose  his  health  and  by  years  of 
great  care  recover  it  again.  He  may  lose  property; 
years  of  toil  and  economy  will  restore  it.  He  may 
lose  friends,  but  others  may  be  raised  up  to  fill 
their  places.  But  the  soul — there  is  no  replacing 
that  loss.  If  Christ  be  lost  to  you  there  is  no 
Savior  for  you.     What  a  loss,  not  for   a   life-time^ 


Sermon  ii  241 

not  for  a  century,  but  for  eternity!  It  is  this  word 
eternity  that  makes  hell  so  terrible  and  heaven  so 
desirable. 

The  mission  of  Christ  is  to  save  us  from  all  that 
is  terrible  in  hell.  He  saved  Zaccheus  and  showed 
his  sympathy  for  him  by  being  a  guest  at  his  house. 
That  He  might  seek  and  save  us  He  came  as  the 
Son  of  Man.  He  was  both  God  and  man.  As 
God  He  gave  Himself  a  ransom  for  us.  As  the  Son 
of  Man  He  knows  us  and  is  in  full  sympathy  with 
every  lost  soul.  Though  rich,  for  our  sakes  He 
became  poor.  Though  the  omnipotent  God,  He 
became  as  a  little  child.  Thus  He  entered  into  all 
the  relations  of  life  that  He  might  become  a  sym- 
pathizing High  Priest.  He  came  seeking  and  saving 
the  lost.  The  soul  of  the  poor  beggar  was  just  as 
precious  to  Him  as  the  soul  of  Dives.  Of  the  rich 
it  is  said,  How  hardly  shall  they  enter  into  the 
kingdom.  The  rich  young  nobleman,  when  affec- 
tionately told  by  our  Lord  what  he  must  do  to 
inherit  eternal  life,  turned  away  sorrowful,  for  he 
had  great  possessions.  When  the  rich  are  pro- 
fessedly converted,  they  never  do  as  much  good  as 
those  who  have  been  trained  up  from  youth  in  the 
benevolence  of  the  gospel.  What  did  William  B. 
Astor  in  his  life  time  do  for  Christ?  There  is  no 
record  that  he  did  anything  for  the  Lord  Jesus. 
His  sons  were  unwilling  that  his    name    should  be 


242  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

lost  and  conceived  the  idea  of  building  in  Trinity 
Church  an  altar  as  a  memorial  that  such  a  man 
once  lived  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Wm.  E.  Dodge 
will  not  need  such  an  altar.  He  will  live  in  the 
grateful  hearts  of  thousands  who  have  felt  his  in- 
fluence for  God.  There  is  one  difficulty  in  professed 
conversion  of  some  rich  men.  They  do  not  feel 
the  necessity  of  taking  their  pocket-books  to  their 
baptism.  Wealth  thus  consecrated  may  be  used 
for  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the  spread  of  the 
saving  knowledge  of  Christ. 

It  is  the  poor  that  receive  the  gospel  as  good 
tidings  of  great  joy.  But  under  the  state  of  things 
which  has  been  growing  in  many  of  our  churches 
within  the  last  twenty-live  years,  too  many  of  the 
poor  are  shut  out  from  the  privileges  of  the  gospel 
in  all  our  towns  and  cities.  I  mean  that  system 
which  demands  the  pew-rentals  must  sustain  the 
running  expenses  of  the  congregation.  This  system 
puts  every  minister  in  a  wrong  relation  to  his  people. 
What  is  the  real  question  where  the  minister  is 
held  responsible  for  sustaining  the  running  expense 
of  the  congregation .?  Dollars  and  cents,  not  the 
salvation  of  sinners.  In  the  first  place,  he  must 
please  the  people  in  order  to  draw.  But  the 
friendship  of  the  world  is  enmity  with  God.  The 
crowd  said,  Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas!  In  the 
second  place,  the  system  substitutes  financial  sue- 


Sermon  il  243 

cess  for  a  spiritual  growth  and  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  in  the  church.  Christ  did  not  say  that 
ye  should  receive  power  after  your  minister  has 
drawn  a  full  house  and  every  seat  is  rented.  But, 
"ye  shall  receive  power  after  that  the  Holy  Ghost 
is  come  upon  you."  Give  me  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  run- 
ning a  church.  In  the  third  place,  it  deprives  a 
minister  of  his  office  as  an  ambassador  of  Christ. 
An  ambassador  receives  his  instructions  from  the 
government  that  commissions  him.  He  is  in 
Christ's  stead.  Take  up  My  mission  where  I  left 
it  when  I  went  up  on  high.  He  is  Christ's  minis- 
ter. He  must  go  to  Christ  for  a  message.  When 
he  has  put  his  ear  so  near  to  the  mouth  of  Christ 
that  he  has  received  a  message  from  Christ,  let  him 
speak  as  one  who  is  commissioned  from  God.  If 
he  has  a  dream,  let  him  tell  it  as  a  dream.  Such 
is  the  minister  who  is  in  Christ's  stead.  Such  an 
one  in  seeking  the  lost.  How  many  ministers  there 
are  who  act  as  if  the  word  "seek"  were  not  in  the 
text!  Seek  the  lost  if  you  would  save  him. 
Rescue  the  perishing.  Down  deep  in  the  human 
heart  there  may  be  some  chords  that  sin  has  not 
destroyed.  Go  then  where  there  is  a  lost  one.  Go 
in  Christ's  name  and  in  His  strength.  If  you  save 
him  there  will  be  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels 
of  God.    Their  joy  will  not  rise  and  fall  in  proper- 


244  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

tion  to  the  greenbacks  or  bonds  that  he  may  have 
to  his  credit.  Their  joy  is  that  a  soul  is  saved, 
that  another  star  is  added  to  the  crown  and  diadem 
of  Jesus,  that  in  another  soul  eternal  life  has 
sprung  up.  There  are  those  who  profess  to  be 
seeking  to  save  souls  who  act  as  if  none  but  the 
large  fish  are  worth  taking  out  of  the  gospel  net. 

What  interest  gathers  around  that  scene  where 
the  penitent  soul  offers  his  prayer  in  broken  accents 
for  mercy.  God  rises  from  His  royal  seat  and 
bends  His  ear  to  catch  the  first  penitential  utter- 
ance. Jesus  is  there,  interceding  with  the  Father. 
The  Holy  Ghost  is  there  convincing  of  sin  and  of 
righteousness  and  of  the  judgment.  Angels  are 
there  on  poised  wing  ready  to  carry  the  welcome 
news  that  the  dead  is  alive.  There  is  no  other 
point  where  such  interest  clusters.  It  is  not  asked 
whether  he  is  rich  or  poor,  but  whether  he  is  peni- 
tent. If  penitent,  then  says  Jesus,  You  are  the  one 
I  am  seeking;  I  am  come  to  reconstruct  you  for 
heaven  and  glory.  What  a  work  Jesus  does  for 
that  man!  He  was  lost  to  his  family,  to  society 
and  to  happiness.  The  Son  of  Man  has  saved  him. 
Look  at  him  now.  He  sits  at  Jesus'  feet  in  his 
right  mind.  His  wife  rejoices,  his  children  rejoice, 
his  neighbors  rejoice  and  exclaim,  "Great  is  the 
work!"  None  but  the  Son  of  God  could  do  such  a 
work.     Angels  rejoice  that  it  is  done  and  all  heaven 


Sermon  II  245 

rejoices  that  another  soul  is  saved  through  the  hlood 
of  the  Lamb.  Such  is  the  mission  of  the  Son  of 
Man. 

As  an  ambassador  of  Christ  I  am  here  in  His  stead 
to  seek  and  save  the  lost  among  you.  It  may  be 
there  are  some  dear  children  who  want  to  be  saved. 
Or  there  may  be  some  one  here  who  has  an  un- 
saved husband  who  feels  that  she  has  not  done  all 
she  could  to  save  him.  Let  me  encourage  all  such 
in  faith. 

There  is  not  an  unsaved  person  in  this  congrega- 
tion whom  Jesus  is  not  seeking  to  save  and  to  do 
it  now.  He  has  saved  some  of  your  dear  friends. 
They  are  before  the  throne  of  God,  having  washed 
their  robes  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb.  Behold  now  is  your  time;  now  is  the 
day  of  your  salvation, 


SERMON  III. 

Matthew  9:24 — "For  the  maid  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth," 

Our  severest  and  most  relenting  foe  should  be 
called  by  a  soft  name.  The  entrance  of  the  king 
of  terrors  to  any  of  our  dwellings  always  brings  the 
most  appalling  results.  Yet  when  we  are  taught 
from  the  sacred  Scriptures  to  look  upon  his  most 
fearful  ravages  as  a  sleep,  it  mitigates  much  of  the 
terror  that  this  stern  foe  always  brings.  Conse- 
quently the  writers  of  both  sacred  and  profane 
history  have  united  in  designating  death  as  a  sleep. 
For  example,  the  writers  of  the  books  of  Kings 
and  Chronicles  in  speaking  of  the  death  of  the  Kings 
of  Israel  represent  them  as  sleeping  with  their 
fathers.  Daniel  (12:2)  says  that  many  of  them 
that  sleep  in  the  dust  of  the  earth  shall  awake. 
Our  Lord,  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  John's 
Gospel,  speaking  of  the  death  of  Lazarus,  says 
"Our  friend  Lazarus  sleepeth."  The  writer  of  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles  in  recording  the  death  of  the 
first  Christian    martyr    says    that    he    fell    asleep. 

These  passages  show  how  the  word    was    used    by 

24G 


Sermon  in  247 

the  sacred  writers  and  will  enable  us  to  determine 
how  it  was  used  by  Christ  in  the  text.  It  cannot 
by  supposed  that  Christ  used  it  in  a  literal  sense, 
for  there  is  every  evidence  that  the  maid  was  dead. 
So  confident  of  this  fact  were  the  friends  and  by- 
standers that  when  our  Lord  affirmed  that  the  maid 
only  slept,  they  laughed  Him  to  scorn,  supposing 
that  He  meant  only  the  repose  of  the  body.  Christ 
acted  upon  the  understanding  that  she  was  actually 
dead. 

There  was  now  presented  an  opportunity  to  over- 
throw the  fallacy  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Sadducees 
who  denied  the  resurrection  of  the  body.  The 
maid's  father  was  a  Sadducee.  He  looked  upon 
the  death  of  his  daughter  as  the  end  of  her  being. 
She  had  ceased  to  be.  Our  Lord  sought  to  re- 
move from  his  mind  this  soul-chilling  "doctrine  by 
the  use  of  the  term  sleep.  He  sought  to  convey 
to  this  father's  mind  that  death  is  but  the  repose 
of  the  body,  that  though  there  had  been  a  separa- 
tion of  the  soul  and  the  body  there  was  not  the 
destruction  of  either,  that  by  a  word  He  could 
awake  the  body  to  life  as  a  word  would  arouse  the 
sleeper  to  a  state  of  consciousness. 

The  meaning,  then,  of  this  interesting  passage 
is  this:  Our  deceased  friends  have  not  ceased  to 
exist.  Though  their  bodies  are  dead,  their  spirits 
live  and  their  bodies  sleep  in  hope  of  resurrection. 


24B  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

The  two  points  that  I  call  you  to  contemplate 
on  this  occasion  are,  the  immortality  of  the  soul 
and  the  resurrection  of  the  body. 

I.  Mankind  of  all  ages  have  believed  the  truth 
that  the  soul  is  to  live  beyond  this  state  of  being. 
The  reasons  of  this  belief  were  not  clear  nor  well 
defined  by  ancient  philosophers.  Yet  the  belief 
existed  with  them.  They  looked  upon  the  soul  of 
man  as  a  mighty  river,  the  track  of  which  they 
could  follow  from  region  to  region  and  from  land 
to  land,  but  which  at  last  enters  into  some  deep 
and  embowered  wood.  The  wood  was  so  thick 
and  the  forest  so  dense  that  they  could  follow  it  no 
further,  but  they  knew  that  the  river  continued  its 
course  by  its  furious  roar.  The  heathen  could 
trace  the  soul  of  man  to  the  death  of  the  body. 
They  could  go  no  further  in  their  observations. 
But  when  it  entered  that  bourne  from  whence  no 
traveler  returns,  they  saw  enough  to  convince 
them  that  its  existence  must  run  on  through  end- 
less ages.  They  reasoned  thus:  The  only  wise 
God  never  acts  without  reason  and  design  worthy 
of  Himself.  Is  it  conceivable  that  He  would  have 
made  man  so  wonderful,  so  stupendous  in  his 
capacities  and  powers,  if  He  had  not  intended  that 
he  should  exist  longer  than  three  score  years  and 
ten  ?  Would  the  vessel  have  been  so  richly  freighted 
if  He,  who  was  the  maker  of   that    vessel    and    its 


Sermon  lil  ^49 

freight,  had  determined  it  should  become  a  total 
wreck  as  soon  as  it  had  sailed  across  the  stream, 
the  narrow  stream,  of  time?  Pagans  could  not 
believe  this. 

If  the  spirit  of  man  is  not  immortal,  why  this 
strong  desire  of  perpetuity  among  men?  What 
mean  those  ancient  piles  erected  over  the  dust  of 
the  great  who  have  lived?  Why  do  you  see  on 
the  stones  that  mark  the  place  where  our  loved  ones 
sleep  those  memorials  engraved?  Is  this  not  an  in- 
dication of  man's  belief  in  immortality?  No  one, 
however  humble  his  station,  wishes  to  be  forgotten. 
No  one  wishes  to  be  blotted  out  of  being. 

Again  there  is  the  desire  after  endless  existence. 
And  do  you  think  that  He  who  formed  us  would 
have  given  us  this  desire  after  a  thing  while  that 
thing  itself  is  altogether  deceptive  and  unreal?  In 
addition  to  this,  we  all  know  from  what  we  feel 
in  ourselves  that  this  cannot  be  the  native  region 
of  the  soul,  that  this  world  is  not  the  home  of  the 
soul,  that  here  it  does  not  find  anything  congenial 
to  its  nature  or  that  is  equal  to  its  cravings  and 
capacities.  It  was  obviously  formed  for  a  good 
that  this  world  does  not  contain.  It  seeks  for  a 
higher  and  nobler  state — immortality. 

Let  me  ask  the  man  who  denies  the  immortality 
of  the  soul  whether  he  knows  that  it  is  not  immor- 
tal.     Has  he  ever  demonstrated  that  fact   that   he 


^^o  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

is  to  cease  to  be  and  cease  to  think?  Has  he  ever 
looked  behind  the  curtain  that  separates  between 
time  and  eternity  and  there  seen  the  inhabitants 
of  past  ages  reposing  ahke  in  one  eternal  sleep,  or 
does  he  know  that  the  spirit  of  man  goes  downward 
with  that  of  the  beast?  Till  such  have  traced  the 
wondrous  flight  of  the  spirit  as  it  leaves  the  body 
and  have  demonstrated  to  the  world  by  as  many 
incontestable  truths  that  it  ceases  to  be  as  those 
upon  which  immortality  rests,  we  shall  still  believe 
in  the  consoling  doctrine  of  the  soul's  endless  ex- 
istence. 

What  an  overwhelming  and  yet  consoling 
thought,  that  we  are  always  to  be,  that  we  have 
commenced  an  existence  that  is  commensurate  with 
eternity,  that  the  soul  shall  live  when  all  cieated 
things  shall  die!  For  this  truth  well  defined  and 
fully  established  we  are  indebted  to  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  They  have  brought  life  and  immortality 
to  light.  They  chase  away  the  gloom  of  the  grave 
and  assure  us  that  beyond  it  there  is  a  world 
wherein  dwelleth  righteousness.  They  reveal  to 
us  this  consolation:  "Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth;  yea,  said  the 
Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors,  and 
their  works  do  follow  them."  They  enter  into  a 
state  of  rest  at  death.  They  are  blessed  at  death. 
From  henceforth,  saith  the    Spirit.      Jesus    Christ 


Sermon  lit  251 

assured  the  penitent  thief  as  he  hung  upon  the 
cross  that  that  day  he  should  be  with  Him  in 
Paradise.  Then  from  that  day  he  was  blessed. 
Paradise,  we  understand  to  be  the  blissful  state  of 
isanctified  souls.  On  that  day  he  should  be  with 
Him  in  Paradise,   the  home  of  sanctified  souls. 

The  apostle  John  in  the  vision  of  glory  that  he 
saw  on  Patmos  was  permitted  to  look  into  heaven 
and  learn  the  state  and  employments  of  those  who 
are  counted  worth}^  to  enter  through  the  gates  into 
the  celestial  city.  In  speaking  of  those  who  had 
washed  their  robes  and  made  them  white  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb,  he  tells  us  they  are  before  the 
throne  of  God  and  serve  Him  day  and  night.  The 
congregation  never  breaks  up;  the  Sabbath  has  no 
end.  It  is  one  ceaseless  round  of  the  worship  of 
God. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  passage  in  the  Bible  that 
more  clearly  establishes  the  existence  of  the  soul 
after  death  than  that  found  in  the  sixteenth  chapter 
of  Luke  in  the  account  of  the  rich  man  and  Lazarus. 
Whatever  else  this  passage  proves  or  does  not 
prove,  it  establishes  beyond  a  doubt  that  the  spirit 
of  both  the  righteous  and  the  wicked  enter  imme- 
diately upon  a  future  state  of  being  and  that  they 
are  happy  and  miserable  in  that  state  according  as 
they  have  been  righteous  or  wicked  in  this  world. 
"And  it  came  to  pass  that  the  beggar  died  and  was 


252  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

carried  by  the  angels  into  Abraham's  bosom."  The 
Jews  had  no  doubt  but  that  Abraham  was  in  Para- 
dise. To  say  that  the  beggar  was  in  his  bosom 
was  the  same  as  to  say  that  Lazarus  was  in  heaven. 
"The  rich  man  also  died  and  was  buried,  and  in 
hell  he  lifted  up  his  eyes,  being  in  torments,  and 
seeth  Abraham  afar  off,  and  Lazarus  in  his  bosom." 
He  had  a  distinct  recognition  of  Lazarus.  He 
also  retained  the  power  of  memory,  for  Abraham 
called  upon  him  to  remember  some  thing,  to-wit, 
that  in  this  life  he  received  his  good  things  and 
Lazarus  his  evil  things;  now  Lazarus  was  com- 
forted, and  he  was  tormented. 

Is  not  this  clearly  in  accordance  with  the  princi- 
ples of  God's  mortal  government?  "Say  to  the 
righteous  that  it  shall  be  well  with  him;  for  they 
shall  eat  the  fruit  of  their  doings."  But  "woe  unto 
the  wicked  it  shall  be  ill  with  him;  for  the  reward 
of  his  hands  shall  be  given  unto  hrm." 

Both  reason  and  revelation  establish  the  future 
existence  of  the  soul,  that  it  has  entered  upon  an 
eternal  state,  that  it  is  to  live  and  sing  as  angels 
do  or  it  is  to  suffer  the  wrath  of  God  forever,  and 
that  these  tremendous  results  are  suspended  upon 
the  moral  characters  that  we  form  in  this  world. 
With  the  righteous  it  shall  be  well.  He  has  a 
character  that  fits  him  for  the  society  and  employ- 
ment of  heaven.      He   is   prepared   to   praise    God 


Sermon  ill  253 

and  the  Lamb.      With  the  wicked    it    is    ill.      His 
character  fits  him  for  no  other  state. 

II.  We  are  taught  that  the  bodies  of  our  de- 
ceased friends  sleep  in  hope  of  the  resurrection. 
The  spirit,  disenthralled  from  the  body,  we  have 
seen  is  active  in  the  spirit  land.  The  body  is  no 
less  under  the  watchful  care  of  Him  who  is  the 
Resurrection  and  the  Life.  He,  having  risen  from 
the  dead  and  become  the  first  fruits  of  them  that 
slept,  has  given  the  assurance  that  as  death  has 
passed  upon  all  because  all  have  sinned,  so  the 
resurrection  power  shall  be  imparted  to  all  that 
sleep.  "For  as  in  Adam  all  die,  even  so  in  Christ 
shall  all  be  made  alive.  But  every  man  in  his 
own  order;  Christ  the  first  fruits,  afterward  they 
that  are  Christ's  at  His  coming."  "For  the  Lord 
Himself  shall  descend  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  with 
a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel  and  with 
the  trump  of  God;"  and  "all  that  are  in  the  graves 
shall  hear  His  voice  and  shall  come  forth;  they 
that  have  done  good  unto  the  resurrection  of  life, 
and  they  that  have  done  evil  unto  the  resurrection 
of  damnation."  It  matters  not  where  we  sleep  or 
where  our  friends  may  repose;  whether  in  sculptured 
marble  or  beneath  the  cold  clods  of  the  valley,  or 
whether  the  deep  blue  waters  have  sung  your 
requiem  as  they  have  rolled  their  mountain  waves 
over  your  coral  bed,  or  whether   you   lie    beneath 


254  •^l/O'  y^^^^  on  the  Skir?nish  Line 

the  polar  snows  of  Siberia  or  are  covered  by  the 
burning  sands  of  Africa,  or  whether  you  fall  where 
no  kind  hand  may  present  itself  to  convey  your 
body  to  the  grave  and  your  body  is  left  to  return 
to  dust  and  your  bones  to  bleach  beneath  a  tropic 
sun — wherever  you  are,  God  will  watch  over  all 
your  dust  till  He  shall  bid  it  rise.  "For  this  corrup- 
tion must  put  on  incorruption  and  this  mortal  must 
put  on  immortality.  So  when  this  corruptible 
shall  have  put  on  incorruption  and  this  mortal  shall 
have  put  on  immortality,  then  shall  be  brought  to 
pass  the  saying  that  is  written.  Death  is  swallowed 
up  in  victory."  Death,  the  last  foe,  will  then  have 
been  conquered  and  the  soul  reunited  with  the  body 
will  enter  upon  the  scenes  of  the  judgment,  to 
meet  the  favor  or  frown  of  its  Judge. 

Why  then  should  the  Christian  fear  the  sleep  of 
death?  It  is  a  blessed  sleep  from  which  none  ever 
wake  to  weep.  When  the  Christian  shall  awake  in 
the  morning  of  the  resurrection,  he  will  have  done 
with  all  weeping.  All  tears  shall  be  forever  wiped 
away.  There  is  no  sickness,  no  dying,  in  that 
better  land. 

"Eye  hath  not  seen  it,  my  gentle  boy, 
Ear  hath  not  heard  its  deep  tones  of  joy, 
Dreams  cannot  picture  a  world  so  fair, 
Sorrow  and  death  may  not  enter  there; 
Time  does  not  breathe  on  its  fadeless  bloom, 
Far  beyond  the  cloud,  and  beyond  the  tomb, 
It  is  there." 


Sermon  ill  255 

Death  is  the  gate  through  which  the  Christian 
enters  the  better  land.  Why  then  dread  to  enter 
there?  Jesus  hath  tasted  death.  He  hath  lain  in 
the  grave  and  He  hath  triumphed  over  it.  So  if 
we  sleep  in  Him,  we,  too,  shall  triumph  over  death 
and  the  grave.  For  "when  He  who  is  our  life  shall 
appear,  we  shall  also  appear  with  Him  in  glory." 

"O  glorious  hour!    O  blest  abode! 

I  shall  be  near  and  like  my  God; 
And  flesh  and  sense  no  more  control 

The  sacred  pleasures  of  the  soul." 

We  see  that  this  subject  is  full  of  consolation  to 
those  who  are  called  to  bury  friends.  And  who 
hath  not  lost  a  friend  .!*  There  is  no  threshold  so 
sacred  that  this  insatiate  foe  dare  not  enter.  Whose 
heart  hath  not  bled  as  we  have  seen  death  with 
fatal  dart  pierce  our  loved  ones }  Death  may  strike 
them  down.  He  may  paint  his  pallid  features  on 
their  once  rosy  cheeks.  Yet  after  all  that  he  does, 
he  has  only  laid  them  down  to  sleep.  Our  Lord 
and  Savior  will  spoil  him  of  his  prey  and  chain  him 
to  His  triumphal  car.  Therefore  when  our  friends 
close  their  eyes  in  death,  let  us  not  look  upon 
them  as  having  ceased  to  exist.  If  they  have  left 
behind  them  a  hope  that  centered  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  and  have  purified  their  hearts  and  brought 
forth  good  fruits,  then  have  they  only  ceased  from 
labors  here  below  to  enter    upon    a   more  exalted 


256  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir7nish  Lme 

state  above.  Let  us  believe  that  He  who  is  the 
Resurrection  and  the  Life  will  watch  over  their  dust 
and  ere  long  adorn  it  with  incorruption,  and,  re- 
united with  the  soul,  it  will  enter  upon  a  participa- 
tion of  the  glories  of  heaven.  Death  looked  upon 
thus  will  be  the  grave  of  our  sorrows  and  the  gate 
way  to  the  skies. 


APPENDIX. 

Following  is  the  charter  adopted  by  the  Trustees 
at  the  first  meeting. 

CHARTER  OF  PARK  COLLEGE. 

I.  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  we, 
Geo.  S.  Park,  &c.,  do  hereby  agree  to  form  our- 
selves into  a  body  corporate  according  to  the 
Constitution  and  Laws  of  the  State  of  Missouri, 
to  be  known  as  the  "Board  of  Trustees  of  Park 
College,"  located  at  or  near  Parkville,  Missouri, 
to  consist  of  not  more  than  twenty-five  members. 
As  a  body  Corporate  they  shall  have  perpetual 
succession,  and  a  common  seal.  They  shall  have 
full  power  to  manage  the  institution,  to  receive 
gifts  of  money,  property,  &c.,  to  preserve,  to 
secure  and  appropriate  them  according  to  the  pro- 
visions of  this  Charter,  and  the  will  of  the  donors, 
for  the  use  of  Park  College.  They  shall  devise 
means  and  take  measures  to  endow  the  institution 
in  all  its  departments. 

The  principles  of  the  College  shall   be    non-sec- 
tarian,   but  evangelical,  imbued  with  the  spirit  of 

Christian  liberty  and  charity. 

257 


258  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

The  object  of  this  Corporation  shall  ever  be  to 
diffuse  knowledge,  moral  and  religious  principles, 
in  the  most  practical  and  effectual  manner;  to 
afford  the  advantages  of  training  and  education  to 
the  youth  of  both  sexes  of  the  West  and  South- 
west, to  give  especially  facilities  to  youth  found 
worthy  and  not  having  sufficient  means,  who  may 
be  inured  to  hardship,  acquainted,  and  in  sympathy 
with  the  people  among  whom  they  are  to  live  and 
labor,  to  obtain  an  education  by  labor,  or  otherwise; 
thus  offering  a  safe  and  unlimited  opportunity  to 
the  patriotic  and  benevolent  to  assist  in  this  great 
work,  by  their  donations  and  endowments. 

11.  1st.  To  secure  the  above  objects,  there 
shall  be  daily  Bible  readings  and  expositions,  with 
lectures  and  practical  training  for  evangelical  A'ork, 
especially  adapted  to  those  who  propose  to  devote 
their  lives  to  such  work  in  the  various  forms  of 
preaching,  lecturing  and  teaching. 

2nd.  There  shall  be  Normal  Sabbath  School 
instruction,  concentrating  and  applying  the  daily 
Bible  readings  and  lecturing  in  the  form  of  a  model 
Sabbath  School,  fitting  students  for  their  work. 
This  work  shall  include  instruction  as  to  the  best 
methods  of  approaching  and  interesting  children 
and  youth  in  the  subject  of  religion,  accompanied 
by  weekly  reports  of  those  students  practically 
engaged  in  Christian  labors  of  their  most  successful 


Appendix  259 

methods,  together  with  the  passages  of  Scripture 
best  adapted  to  reach  individual  minds. 

3rd.  There  shall  be  a  full  course  of  instruction 
in  Science,  Literature,  and  Art  as  taught  in  the 
best  Colleges  as  far  as  the  funds  will  permit. 

4th.  In  the  Male  department  there  shall  be 
taught  agriculture,  business  management,  skilled 
labor  and  practical  wisdom. 

5th.  In  the  Female  department,  in  addition  to 
any  of  the  previous  course  of  study  they  may  select, 
or  the  faculty  prescribe,  there  shall  be  taught 
household  and  domestic  duties,  and  management, 
and  culinary  arts,  accompanied  with  regular  prac- 
tical and  skilled  labor  and  wise  arts  required  in 
American  homes.  This  practical  work  is  designed 
to  benefit  the  College  and  the  students.  The 
males  by  farm,  garden  and  culinary  arts,  contribute 
largely  to  their  own  support  while  gaining  knowl- 
edge of  the  useful  pursuits  of  life,  and  more  perfect 
health. 

It  is  designed  to  educate  by  practice,  training 
and  doing,  as  well  as  by  teaching,  and  these  de- 
partments of  skilled  labor,  science,  literature,  and 
art,  shall  be  under  the  supervision  and  direction 
of  the  most  competent  instructors  that  the  funds 
of  the  College  will  permit  the  Trustees  to  employ. 

III.  1st,  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  have 
power  to  fill  vacancies  that  may  occur  in  the  Board 


26o  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

of  Trustees,  by  death,  resignation,  refusal  to  act 
or  otherwise,  or  to  remove  from  office,  and  appoint 
in  their  place,  any  Trustee,  the  President,  or  any 
member  of  the  Faculty,  or  agent,  for  misconduct, 
or  failure  to  do  duty,  or  undue  neglect  of  the 
interests  of  the  institution. 

2nd.  The  Board  of  Trustees  are  hereby  for- 
bidden to  contract  any  debts  against  the  corpora- 
tion, or  to  mortgage  the  property  of  the  College 
proper,  or  to  do  any  act  to  erect  a  lien  upon  or  in- 
cumber any  property  given,  or  purchased  or  vested 
in  it  in  trust  or  otherwise,  but  shall  hold  inviolate 
all  furniture,  stock,  assets,  lands,  buildings, 
moneys,  or  endowment  funds,  professorships, 
scholarships,  or  other  funds,  preserving  them  in 
perpetuity,  using  only  furniture,  stock,  lands,  and 
buildings,  and  the  interest  of  the  funds,  handling 
them  down  to  their  successors  forever;  and  all 
claims  against  the  above-named  property  or  corpo- 
ration shall  be  void  in  law;  and  any  trustee  voting 
or  acting  against  this  provision  of  the  Charter,  or 
any  other  officer  or  agent,  shall  not  in  any  way 
legally  bind  the  Board  of  Trustees  or  the  institu- 
tion. They  have  superceded  their  authority  and 
can  only  assume  individual  and  personal  responsi- 
bility, and  the  Record  of  this  Charter  in  Platte 
County,  Missouri,  shall  be  legal  notice  thereof  to 
all. 


Appendix  261 

3rd.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  have  over- 
sight, approval  and  direction  of  all  endowment 
funds,  of  all  real  estate  and  personal  property,  and 
of  all  loans  made  of  them.  They  may  invest  in 
United  States  bonds  with  interest  payable  semi- 
annually, or  they  may  loan  on  unencumbered  real 
estate,  with  a  clear  transcript  of  title  and  if  build- 
ings are  included  in  the  valuation,  such  buildings 
must  be  insured,  and  the  insurance  assigned,  valued 
in  cash  at  more  than  double  the  amount,  taking 
also  good  personal  security  with  it,  and  a  mortgage 
or  deed  of  trust  with  power  of  sale  in  default  of 
any  payment  of  principal  or  interest  when  due, 
and  no  member  of  the  Board  shall  be  received  as 
security  of  the  Treasurer  or  for  loans  of  the  funds 
o'f  the  Corporation. 

4th.  It  is  the  earnest  desire  of  the  friends  of 
this  institution  that  it  be  established  and  built  up 
by  wisdom,  and  stand  forever,  and  go  on  improving 
like  the  older  institutions  of  Europe  and  America. 
To  accomplish  this  purpose  it  is  suggested  that  the 
Board  of  Trustees  look  most  critically  into  the  way 
things  are  going,  and  make  wise  provisions  for 
future  contingencies;  if  any  Trustee  neglects  such 
care  and  caution  request  him  to  resign  and  appoint 
another.  It  is  a  positive  wrong  to  be  indulgent  to 
incapacity  or  inefficiency,  to  idleness,  wastefulness 
or  any  other  unfitness.   Let  the  eyes  of  these  guard- 


264  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skir7nish  Line 

ians  pierce  every  nook  and  corner  and  thereby 
insure  wise  and  skilful  management  of  the  Institu- 
tion. Let  them  provide  the  best  instructors  and 
make  the  best  provisions  for  the  institution  their 
funds  will  permit,  going  no  futher.  Let  them  stop 
all  leaks,  stir  up  the  indolent,  get  honest  work 
done,  and  make  purchases  as  far  as  practical,  when 
prices  are  lowest,  for,  "There  is  a  time  to  get."  In 
summer  prepare  and  lay  up  for  winter.  Let  them 
secure  every  trust,  promptly  discharge  every  trustee, 
officer,  agent  or  employee,  and  have  the  business, 
work  and  instruction  done  by  as  few  men  and  at 
as  small  a  cost  as  possible,  consistent  with  the  true 
interests  of  the  institution,  without  favor  or  par- 
tiality, remembering  that  the  Lord's  work  be  done 
better  than  our  own. 

5th.  The  Board  of  Trustees  also  shall  have 
power  to  take  any  measures  or  do  any  acts  they 
may  think  proper  for  the  interests  of  the  College 
not  forbidden  in  this  instrument.  They  may  ap- 
point agents  to  canvas  for  funds,  they  may  sell  and 
convey  by  deed  or  otherwise  any  outlying  lands 
or  personal  property  except  those  lands  and  per- 
sonal property  used  by  the  institution  in  or  near 
Parkville,  Mo.,  which  are  to  be  preserved  in  per- 
petuity. 

6th.     The  Board  of  Trustees    may    appoint    an 
advisory  committee,  who,  with  the    Facult}',    shall 


Appendix  263 

have  the  general  control  and  supervision  of  the 
College  ad  inteiHm,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
Board  and  in  consistency  with  the  provisions  of 
this  Charter  and  the  By  Laws  that  may  be  enacted. 

The  Rev.  John  A.  McAfee  in  consequence  of  his 
unwearied  labors  and  ability  as  an  instructor  of 
youth  is  hereby  declared  the  permanent  President 
of  the  College.  He,  and  his  successors  in  office 
shall  make  a  report  annually  or  oftener  if  required, 
to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  conditions  and  prog- 
ress of  the  College. 

7th.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  meet  at  the 
College  on  Tuesday,  the  24th  day  of  June,  A.  D. 
1879,  and  thereafter,  each  year  at  such  times  as 
they  may  decide.  They  may  adjourn  from  time  to 
time  till  they  have  a  quorum.  The  President  of 
the  Board  may,  and  at  the  call  of  five  members 
shall,  call  a  meeting  of  the  Board  at  any  time,  giving 
ten  days'  notice  of  such  meeting  in  writing,  to  each 
member,  addressed  to  his  P.  O. 

A  majority  of  all  the  members  shall  constitute  a 
quorum.  At  the  first  meeting,  such  quorum  being 
present,  they  shall  at  once  proceed  to  elect  a  Pres- 
ident of  the  Board,  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer, 
and  such  other  officers,  agents  and  Faculty  as  the 
means  of  the  College  will  permit. 

They  shall  keep  full  records  of  all  proceedings  of 
the  intstiution  and  shall  make  an  annual  report  to 
the  Board,  or  oftener  if  required. 


264  Fifty  Years  on  the  Skirmish  Line 

The  Treasurer  shall  give  collateral  and  personal 
security  in  more  than  double  the  amount  that  may 
come  into  his  hands  and  give  additional  security 
from  time  to  time  as  the  Board  may  require.  He 
shallonly  pay  out  money  on  order  of  the  Board,  and 
he  shall  make  an  annual  report  of  the  moneys  re- 
ceivedand  paid  out  and  on  hand,  and  the  financial 
condition  of  the  institution,  or  oftener  if  required. 

8th.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  have  power 
to  frame  a  code  of  By-laws,  also  adopt  the  Curric- 
ulum of  Study,  and  change  the  same  in  any  manner 
not  inconsistent  with  this  instrument,  and  grant 
upon  recommendation  of  the  Faculty,  Literary  and 
Honorary  Degrees. 


Important  Missionary  Publications. 

4  ♦ » 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF  JOHN    G.   PATON.     Missionary  to  the 

New  Hebrides.      Introductory   note  by   Arthur  T.    Pierson,    D.D. 

2  vols.,  12mo.,  portrait  and  map,  in  neat  box,  $2.00  net. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  biographies  of  modern  times. 

"I  have  just  laid  down  the  most  robust  and  the  most  fascinating  piece  of  auto- 

biogfraphy  that  I  have  met  with  in  many  a  day It  is  the  story  of  the 

wonderful  work  wrought  by  John  G.  Paton,  the  famous  missionary  to  the  New 
Hebrides;  he  was  made  of  the  same  stutt'witli  Livingstone." — T.  L.  Cuyler. 

"It  stands  with  such  books  as  those  Dr.  Livingstone  gave  the  world,  and 
shows  to  men  that  the  hei'oes  of  the  cross  are  not  merely  to  be  sought  in  past 
ages, " — Christian  Intelligencer. 

THE    LIFE    OF   JOHN    KENNETH    MACKENZIE.      Medical 

Missionary  to  China  ;  with  the  story  of  the  First  Chinese  Hospital 

by  Mrs.  Bryson,  author  of  "Child  Life  in  Chinese  Homes,"  etc. 

12mo.,  cloth,  400  pages,  price  $1.50  with  portrait  in  photogravure. 

"The  story  of  a  singularly  beautiful  life,  sympathetically  and  ably  written, 
.    .    .    .     A  really  helpful,  elevating  book."— iondo7i  3fissionar2/ C/irontcie, 

"The  volume  records  much  that  is  fresh  and  interesting  bearing  on  Chinese 
customs  and  manners  as  seen  and  vividly  described  by  a  missionary  who  had 
ample  opportunities  of  studying  them  under  most  varied  circumstances  and 
conditions." — Scotsman. 

THE  GREATEST  WORK  IN  THE  WORLD.  The  Evangeliza- 
tion of  all  Peoples  in  the  Present  Century.  By  Rev.  Arthur  T. 
PiersoD,  D.D.     12mo.,  leatherette,  gilt  top,  35c. 

The  subject  itself  is  an  inspiration,  but  this  latest  production  of  Dr.  Pierson 
thrills  with  the  life  which  the  Master  Himself  has  imparted  to  it.  It  will  be  a 
welcome  addition  to  Missionary  literature. 

THE   CRISIS  OF   MISSIONS.     By  Rev.  Arthur  T.  Pierson,  D.D. 

Cloth,  $1.25  ;  paper,  35c. 

"  We  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  this  book  is  the  most  purposeful,  earnest  and 
intelligent  review  of  the  mission  work  and  field  which  has  ever  been  given  to  the 
Church." — Christian  Statesman. 

MEDICAL   MISSIONS.     Their  Place  and  Power.     By  John  Lowe, 

F.  R.  C.  S.  E.,  Secretary  of  the  Edinburgh  Medical  Mission  Society. 

12mo.,  308  pages,  cloth,  |1.50. 

"This  book  contains  an  exhaustive  account  of  the  benefits  that  may,  and  in 
point  of  fact  do,  accrue  from  the  use  of  the  medical  art  as  a  Christian  agency.  Mr. 
Lowe  is  eminently  qualified  to  instruct  us  in  this  matter,  having  himself  been  so 
long  engaged  in  the  same  field." — From  Introduction  by  Sir  William,  Muir. 

ONCE  HINDU:  NOW  CHRISTIAN.  The  early  life  of  Baba 
Padmanji.  Translated  from  the  Marathi.  Edited  by  J.  Murray  Mit- 
chell, M.  A.,  LLD.     12mo.,  155  pases,  with  appendix.     Cloth,  75c. 

"A  more  instructive  or  more  interesting  narrative  of  a  human  soul,  once  held 
firmly  in  the  grip  of  oriental  superstition,  idolatry  and  caste,  gradually  emerging 
into  the  light,  liberty  and  peace  of  a  regenerate  child  of  God,  does  not  often  come 
to  hand." — Missionary  Herald. 

AN  INTENSE  LIFE.  By  George  F.  Herrick.  A  sketch  of  the  life 
and  work  of  Rev.  Andrew  T.  Prattt,  M.D.,  Missionary  of  the  A.  B. 
C.  F.  M.,  in  Turkey,  1852-1872.     16mo.,  cloth,  50c 


NEW  YORK. : :  Flcming  H.  ReucU  Company  : :  chicago> 


important  Missionary  Publications 

(Continued.') 


EVERY-DAY  LIFE  IN  SOUTH  INDIA,  or,  the  Story  of  Coopoc 
swame.v.  Au  Autobiography.  With  fine  engravings  by  E.  Whym- 
per.     12mo.,  cloth,  $100. 

THE  CHILDREN  OF  INDIA.        Written  for  children  by  one  of 

their  friends.     Illustrations  and  map.     Small  4to  ,  cloth,  $1,25. 

"  These  are  good  books  for  the  Sunday-School  Library,  and  will  help  young 
people  in  luissionary  societies  who  desire  to  have  an  intelligent  idea  of  the  people 
in  India  whom  they  are  sending  their  money  and  their  missionaries  to  convert."  — 
Missionary  Herald. 

HINDUISM,  PAST  AND  PRESENT.  With  an  account  of  recent 
Hindu  reformers,  and  a  brief  comparison  between  Hinduism  and 
Christianity.  By  J.  Murray  Mitchell,  M.A.,  LLID.  12mo.,  cloth, 
$1.60. 

"A  praiseworthy  attempt  to  present  a  popular  view  of  a  ^ast  and  important 
ubject." — Saturday  Review. 

GOSPEL  ETHNOLOGY.     With  illustrations.     By  S.  E.    Paterson, 

F.  G.  S.     12mo,  cloth.,  $1.00. 

^  "  The  first  attempt  to  treat  this  subject  from  a  thorough-g«ing  scientific  stand- 
point. A  very  powerful  argument  for  the  truth  of  Christianity.  "—English  Churchn 
man. 

"A  book  to  refer  to  for  information  not  easily  to  be  o*>tained  otherwise. — 
Church  Missionary  Intelligencer. 

NATIVE  LIFE  IN  SOUTH  INDIA.     Being  sketches  of  the  social 

and  religious  characteristics  of  the  Hindus.      By  the  Rev.   Henry 

Rice.      With  many  illustrations  from  native  sketches.     12mo.,  cloth 

boards,  $1.00. 

"  Those  who  have  heard  Mr.  Rice's  missionary  addressee  Will  be  prepared  to 
hear  that  this  is  a  fascinating  book." — Life  and  Work. 

CHRISTIAN  PROGRESS  IN  CHINA.  Gleaning?  fsom  the  writ- 
ings and  speaches  of  many  workers.  By  Arnold  Foster,  B.A., 
London  Missionary,  Hankow.  With  map  of  China.  12mo.,  cloth, 
$1.00. 

AMONG  THE  MONGOLS.    By  Rev.  James  Gilmour,  M.A.,  London 

Mission,    Peking.      Numerous    engravings    from    photographs  and 

native  sketches.     12mo.,  gilt  edges,  cloth,  $1.00. 

"The  newness  and  value  of  the  book  consists  solely  in  its  Defoe  quality,  that 
when  you  have  read  it  you  know,  and  will  never  forget,  all  Mr.  Qilmour  knows 
and  tells  of  how  Mongols  live." — Spectator. 

EVERY-DAY  LIFE  IN  CHINA,   or,  Scenes  alon^  River  and  Road 

in  the  Celestial  Empire.     By  Edwin  J.  Dukes.     Hlustrationa  from 

the  author's  sketches.     12mo.,  with  embellished  cover,  $2.00. 

That  China  is  a  mysterious  problem  to  all  who  interest  themselves  in  its  tt^aira 
is  the  only  excuse  for  offering  another  book  on  the  subject. 


NEW  YORK.  ::  Fleming  H.  Resell  Company  : :  cmcAfio. 


Popular  Missionary  Biographies. 

l2mo,  i6o  pages.     Fully  illustrated;  cloth  extra,  75  cents  each. 


Rev.  C.  H.  Spurgeon, 

jrrites: 

*'  Crowded  with  facts 
that  both  interest  and  in- 
spire, we  can  conceive  of 
no  better  plan  to  spread 
the  Missionary  spirit  than 
the  multiplying  of  such 
biographies;  and  we 
would  specially  commend 
this  series  to  those  who 
have  the  management  of 
libraries  and  selection  of 
prizes  in  our  Sunday 
Schools," 


From  The  Missionary 
Herald : 

"We  commended  this 
series  in  our  last  issue, 
and  a  further  examma- 
tion  leads  us  to  renew  our 
commendation,  and  to 
urge  the  placing  of  this 
series  of  missionary  books 
in  ail  our  Sabbath-school 
libraries. 

These  books  are  hand- 
somely printed  and  bound 
and  are  beautifully  illus- 
trated, and  we  are  confi- 
dent that  they  will  prove 
attractive  to  all  young 
people." 


SAMUEL  CROWTHER,   the  Slave  Boy  who  became  Bishop  of 

the  Niger.    By  Jesse  Page,  author  of  "  Bishop  Patterson." 
THOMAS  J.  COMBER,  Missionary   Pioneer  to  the  Congo.      By 

Rev.  J.  B.  Myers,  Association  Secretary  Baptist  Missionary  Society, 
BISHOP  PATTESON,  the  Martyr  of  Melanesia.  By  Jesse  Page. 
GRIFFITH    JOHN,    Founder    of   the   Hankow  Mission,  Centra* 

China.    By  Wm.  Robson,  of  the  London  Missionary  Society. 
ROBERT   MORRISON,  the   Pioneer  of   Chinese   Missions.      By 

Wm.  J.  ToWxNSEND,  Sec.  Methodist  New  Connexion  Missionary  Soc'y» 
ROBERT  MOFFAT,  the  Missionary  Hero  of  Kuruman.    By  David 

J.  Deane,  author  of  "  Martin  Luther,  the  Reformer,"  etc. 
WILLIAM   CAREY,  the   Shoemaker  who  became  a  Missionary, 

By  Rev.  J.  B.  Myers,  Association  Secretary  Baptist  Missionary  Society. 

JAMES    CHALMERS,    Missionary    and    Explorer  of   Rarotonga 
and  New  Guinea.  By  Wm.  Robson,  of  the  London  Missionary  Soc'y. 

MISSIONARY  LADIES  IN  FOREIGN  LANDS.     By  Mrs.  E,  R. 

Pilman,  author  of  "  Heroines  of  the  Mission  Fields,"  etc. 
JAMES  CALVERT;  or.  From  Dark  to  Dawn  in  Fiji. 
JOHN  WILLIAMS,  the    Martyr   of   Erromanga.      By  Rev.  James 

J.  Ellis. 

UNIFORM   WITH  THE   ABOVE. 

JOHN  BRIGHT,  the  Man  of  the  People.     By  Jesse  Page,  author  of 

"  Bishop  Patteson,"   "  Samuel  Crowther,"  etc. 
HENRY  M.  STANLEY,  the  African  Explorer.  By  Arthur  Monte- 

FIORE,  F.R.G.S.     Brought  down  to  1889. 
DAVID  LIVINGSTON,  his  Labors  and  his  Legacy. 


CHICAGO : 

148-150  Madison  Street. 


Flemiqg  H.  Mell  Co. 


NEW  YORK : 
112  Fifth  Ave.,  near  i6ih. 


Writings  of  Rey.  F.  B.  MEYER,  B.  A. 

am* 

Mr.  Meger  alwags  writes  to  edificatiori.—C.  H.  SPURGEON. 


^£S_epJK     Beloved— Hated— Exalted.     CUtA,  i6  mo.,  $i.oo. 

In  the  present  volume  Mr.  Meyer  retells  with  skill  and  pathos  the 
old-world  story  of  the  Israelitish  youth  who  rose  through  pit  and  prison  to 
the  post  of  Premier  of  Egypt;  a  story  of  undying  interest  and  worth,  not 
only  as  a  true  tale  of  Eastern  romance,  but  as  a  unique  example  of  the 
value  of  piety,  purity  of  life  and  fidelity  in  service. 

lOTH  THOUSAND. 

b  t  CI  t)  d  tn  :      or,  The  Obedience  of  Faith.     C/o/k,  ib  mo.,  $i.oo. 


% 


A  book  we  would  very  heartily  commend  to  those  who  desire  to  make 
progress  in  Christian  life  and  experience;  each  will  find  it  helpful  and  sug- 
gestive, sending  new  light  upon  many  a  well-known  narrative. — Christian 
Progress. 

The  contents  of  the  book  before  us  are  such  that  no  one  can  rise  from 
its  perusal  without  feeling  consciously  strengthened  in  God  and  inspired 
afresh  for  the  Godly  life, — Sunday-School  Chronicle. 

Really  a  very  beautiful  work,  which  will  be  read  with  delight  by 
many  a  fireside.  After  all,  this  home-like  treatment  of  Scripture  biography, 
with  the  object  of  bringing  out  the  spiritual  lessons,  is  amongst  the  highest 
and  most  profitable  studies. —  The  Freeman. 

13TH  THOUSAND. 

"^  6  r  ex  ^  I  I      A  Prince  with  God.     Cloih^  ib  mo.^  $1.00. 

s 

Mr.  Meyer  has  great  descriptive  power.  He  can  tell  a  narrative 
well.  This  subject  in  his  hand  glows  with  life,  and  the  scenes  and  events  in 
the  history  of  his  hero  pass  vividly  before  you,  and  are  ever  being  used  to 
force  home  some  important  principle. — British  Messenger. 

With  a  keen  moral  insight,  and  a  deep  spiritual  sympathy,  he  de- 
scribes the  piety  and  weakness  of  the  best  beloved  of  the  Patriarchs. 
— Christian  Leader. 

Exceedingly  good,  not  only  spiritual,  but  also  thoughtful,  fresh,  sug- 
gestive and  thoroughly  practical. — C.  H.  Spurgeon,  in  Sword  and  Trowel. 

From  first  to  last  the  book  is  richly  suggestive  and  spiritually  fruit- 
ful.—  Word  and  Work. 

I5TH   THOUSAND. 

^3P  Ii|  a  \\ :      and  the  Secret  of  his  Powero     Cloth,  j6  mo.,  $1,00. 

The  leading  object  of  this  volume  is  to  show  that  Elijah's  God  is  our 
God;  and  how  a  like  dependence  may  be  ours  if  our  dependence  is  in  the 
living  God.  It  is  encouraging  and  stimulating;  yet  full  of  solemn  warnings. 
Some  parts  are  grandly  written  and  of  thrilling  interest. — Footsteps  of 
Truth. 

Good,  exceedingly  good  I  Mr.  Meyer  is  a  great  gain  to  the  armies  of 
Evangelical  truth;  for  his  tone,  spirit  and  aspirations  are  all  of  a  fine  Gospel 
sort. — Sword  and  Trowel. 


NiwYORK  s:  Fleming  H,  Revell  Co.  s:    cHicAoa 


WRITINGS  OF  REV.  F.   B.  MEYER,  B.  A. 


^*'^th 


Xitb  bj)  iFiti?:*'    Expositions  of  the  First  Epistle  of  Peter.  CMA 


i6  mo.,  $1.00 


We  doubt  whether  any  work  has  appeared  since  the  time  of  Leighton, 
on  the  same  subject,  which  equals  the  one  before  us.  These  expositions  of 
one  of  the  richest  of  the  Epistles  are  brightly  and  beautifully  written,  and 
infused  by  a  lofty  and  evangelical  Christian  spirit — Primitive  Methodist. 


% 


2IST  THOUSAND. 

[)e  |)reggnt  (Eenses  of  i\\z  iBlesseb  Cife.    cioth,  j^  mo.,  50c. 


We  commend  the  book  as  one  that  cannot  fail  to  be  read  with  profit. 
"^Evangelical  Christendom. 

A  gem  and  brimful  of  spiritual  life — Methodist  New  Connexion 
Magazine. 


30TH  TMOUSANDa 

0]^linstian  £it)lng«    cioth,  32  mo.,  50c. 

Full  of  sweetness  and  light.  No  Christian  can  read  it  and  fail  to 
receive  stimulus  in  the  direction  whither  the  true-hearted  would  go. — Con- 
gregational Magazine. 

Special  stress  is  made  in  this  little  volume  on  the  practical  side  of  the 
Christian  life.  Thoughts  calculated  to  strengthen  and  inspire  in  the  per- 
formance of  every-day  duties,  are  put  in  clear  and  simple  form. — Advance. 

Tbey  prove  most  refreshing  reading;  and  for  the  culture  of  the  relig- 
ous  life  we  can  recommend  nothing  better. — Standard. 

IQTH  THOUSAND. 

3lJl)e  Slieplierb  JDsalm.    ^^^^^^'^^''^l^^  *^®  ^^^  ^'^^'"'    ^^''^^'  ^^ 

We  have  never  read  anything  so  charming  on  the  Twenty,  third 
•Psalm.  It  is  full  of  beauty  and  poetry.  Anything  that  this  gifted  and 
spiritual  author  writes  requires  no  recommendation,  as  he  is  well  known  to 
the  Christian  public. — Irish    Congregational  Magazine. 

Mr.  Meyer  has  given  us  a  devotional  work  on  this  inspired  Psalm 
which  every  Christian  man  and  woman  should  not  only  read  but  carry  about 
in  his  pocket  in  order  to  match  even  amid  the  busy  employment  of  life  an 
uplifting  and  elevating  thought.  This  little  book  is  worth  its  weight  in 
gold. —  Central  Baptist. 

Envelops  Series  of  Booklets,  by  Rev.  F.  B.  Meyv. 

The  Chambers  of  the  King.      Words  of  Help  for  Christian  The  Lost  Chord  Found. 
With  Christ  in  Separation.  Girls.  Why  Sign  the  Pledge? 

Seven  Rules  for  Daily  Living.  The  Filling  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  Secret  of  Power. 
The  Secret  ofVictory  over  Sin,  The  Stewardship  of  Money.     Our  Bible  Reading. 
The  First  Step  into  the  Blessed  Where  am  I  Wrong?  The  Secret  of  Guidance. 

Life.  Young  Man,  Don't  Drift!  Peace,  Perfect  Pe»:e. 

30C.  per  dozen,  or  $1.50  per  100. 
CHOICE  EXTRACTS  from  writings  of  F.  B.  Meyer,  48  pages,  50.  per  copy;  35c.  dozea, 

NEW  YORK.    ::     Flcming  H-  Revell  Co.    ::      Chicago. 


By-Paths  of  Bible   Knowledge. 

•The  volumes  issuing  under  the  above  general  title  fully  deserve  sue* 
cess.  They  have  been  entrusted  to  scholars  who  have  a  special  acquaint- 
ance with  the  subjects  about  which  they  severally  treat." — Athenaum. 


These  books  are  written  by  specialists,  and  their  aim  is  to  give  the 
results  of  the  latest  and  best  scholarships  on  questions  of  Biblical 
history,  science  and  archaeology.  The  volumes  contain  much  informa- 
tion that  is  not  easily  accessible,  even  to  those  who  have  a  large 
acquaintance  with  the  higher  literature  on  these  subjects. 


IS*     £ar]y  Bible  Songs. 

With  introduction  on  the  Nature  and  Spirit  of  Hebrew  Song,  by         , 

A.  H,  DrysdaleM.  A $100 

14.    modern  Discoveries  on  tlie  Site  of  Ancient  Epliesus. 

By  J.T.Wood,  F.S.  A.    lUustrated $100 

13.     Tlie  Times  of  IsaiaJi. 

As  illustrated  from  Con  temporary  Monuments.  By  A.  H,  Sayce,  LL,  D,      .80 
la.    Tlie  Hittites;  or  tlie  Story   of  a  Forgotten  Empire. 

By  A.  H,  Sayce,  LL.  D.    Illustrated.    Crown,  8vo $1  20 

11.    Animals  of  tlie  Bible. 

By  H.  Chichester  Hart,  Naturalist  to  Sir  G.  Nares'  Arctic  Expedition 
and  Professor  Hull's  Palestine  Expedition.  Illustrated.  Crown,  8vo  $1  20 
10,    The  Trees  and  Plants  Mentioned  in  tlie  Bible. 

By  W.  H.  Groser,  B.  Sc.    Illustrated $1  00 

9.    The  Diseases  of  tlie  Bible. 

By  Sir  J.  Risdon  Bennett $100 

8.    Tlie  Dwellers  on  tlie  Nile. 

Chapters  on  the  Life,  Literature,  History  and  Customs  of  Ancient 
Egypt.     By  E.  A.  Wallis  Budge,  M.  A.,  Assistant  in  Department  of 

Oriental  Antiquities,  British  Museum.    Illustrated. $1  20 

T.    Assyria;  Its  Princes,  Priests  and  People. 

By  A.  H.  Sayce,  M.  A.,  LL.  D.,  author  of  "Fresh  Light  from  Ancient 
Monuments,"    "Introduction  to  Ezra,  Nehemiah  and  Esther,"  etc. 

Illustrated $139 

••    Egypt  and  Syria. 

Their  Physical  Features  in  Relation  to  Bible  History.  By  Sir  J.  W. 
Dawson,  Principal  of  McGill  CoUege,  Montreal,  F.  G.  S.,  F.  R.  S., 
author  of  "The  Chain  of  Life  in  Geological  Time,"  etc.    Second 

edition,  revised  and  enlarged.    With  many  illustrations $1  20 

6.    Galilee  in  tlie  time  of  Christ. 

By  Selah  Merrill,  D.  D.,  author  of  "East  of  the  Jordan,"  etc.  With  Map  $100 

4.  Babylonian  Life  and  History. 

By  E.  A.  Willis  Budge,  M.  A.,  Cambridge,  Assistant  in  the  Depart- 
ment of  Oriental  Antiquities,  British  Museum,  illustrated $120 

8.    Recent  Discoveries  on  the  Temple  Hill  at  Jerusalem. 

By  the  Rev.  J.  King,  M.  A,,  Authorized  Lecturer  for  the  Palestine 
Exploration  Fund.    With  Maps,  Plans  and  Illustrations $1  00 

5.  Fresh  Lights  From  the  Ancient  Monuments. 

A  Sketch  of  the  most  striking  Confirmations  of  the  Bible  from  recent 
discoveries  in  Egypt,  Assyria,  Babylonia,  Palestine  and  Asia  Minor. 
By  A.  H.  Sayce,  LL.  D.,  Deputy  Professor  of  (Comparative  Philology, 

Oxford,  etc.    With  fac-similes  from  photographs $1  2<i 

1.    Cleopatra's  Needle. 

History  of  the  London  Obelisk,  with  an  Exposition  of  the  Hiero- 
g;^lyphics.  By  the  Rev.  J.  King,  Lecturer  for  the  Palestine  Explora- 
tion Fund.    With  Illustrations $10t 


CHICAGO:  riDTnTTin    U     l?D\7Dlir^n  NEW  YORK: 

1^-150  Madiion  Street.    riOmlllU  ll.   xVoyCii  uUi  112  Fijth  Ave,,  near  i6th 


REFBRBNCB  BOOKS 


FOR 


BIBLB    STUnBNTS, 


♦  »  ♦  •■ 


JAMIESON,  FAUSSET  &  BROWN'S  Popular  Portable  Com- 
mentary. Critical,  Practical,  Explanatory.  Four  volumns  in  neat 
box,  fine  cloth,  f  8.00;  half  bound,  $10.00. 

A  new  edition,  containing  the  complete  unabridged  notes  in  clear  type  on  good  paper, 
in  four  handsome  12  mo.  volumes  of  about  1.000  pages  each,  with  copious  index,  numerous 
illustrations  and  maps,  and  a  Bible  Dictionary  compiled  from  Dr.  Wm.  Smith's  standard 
work. 

Bishop  Vincent  of  Chautauqua  fame  says  :  *'  The  des^  condensed  commentary  on  the 
whole  Bible  is  Jamieson,  Fausset  &  Brown." 

CRU  DEN'S  UNABRIDGED  CONCORDANCE  TO  THE 
HOLY  SCRIPTURES.  With  life  of  the  author.  864  pp.,  8vo., 
cloth  (net),  $1.00;  half  roan,  sprinkled  edges  (net),  2.00;  half  roan, 
full  gilt  edges  (net),  $2,50. 

SMITH'S  BIBLE  DICTIONARY,  comprising  its  Antiquities,  Biog- 
raphy, Geography  and  Natural  History,  with  numerous  maps  and  illus- 
trations. Edited  and  condensed  from  his  great  work  by  William 
Smith,  LL.  D.     776  pages,  8vo,  many  illustrations,  cloth,  I1.50. 

THE  BIBLE  TEXT  CYCLOPEDIA.  A  complete  classification  of 
Scripture  Texts  in  the  form  of  an  alphabetical  list  of  subjects.  By 
Rev.  James  Inglis.     Large  8vo,  524  pages,  cloth,  $1.75. 

The  plan  is  much  the  same  as  the  "  Bible  Text  Book"  with  the  valuable  additional 
help  in  that  the  texts  referred  to  are  quoted  in  full.  Thus  the  student  is  saved  the  time  and 
labor  of  turning  to  numerous  passages,  which,  when  found,  may  not  be  pertinent  to  the 
subject  he  has  in  hand. 

THE  TREASURY  OF  SCRIPTURE  KNOWLEDGE;  consist- 
ing of  500,000  scripture  references  and  parallel  passages,  with  numer- 
ous notes.     8vo,  778  pages,  cloth,  $2.00. 

A  single  examination  of  this  remarkable  compilation  of  references  will  convince  the 
reader  of  the  fact  that  "  the  Bible  is  its  own  best  interpreter." 

THE  WORKS  OF  FLAVIUS  JOSEPHUS,  translated  by  William 
Whiston,  a.  M.,  with  Life,  Portrait,  Notes  and  Index.  A  new  cheap 
edition  in  clear  type.     Large  8vo,  684  pages,  cloth,  f  2.00. 

100.000  SYNONYMS  AND  ANTONYMS.  By  Rt.  Rev.  Samuel 
Fallows,  A.  M.,  D.  D.     512  pages,  cloth,  $1.00. 

A  complete  Dictionary  of  synonyms  and  wards  0/  opposite  meanings,  with  an  appen- 
dix of  Briticisms,  Americanisms,  Colloquialisms,  Homonims,  Homophonous  words,  Foreign 
Phrases,  etc.,  etc. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  best  books  of  its  kind  we  have  seen,  and  probably  there  is  nothing 
published  in  the  country  that  is  equal  to  it."— F.  M.  C.  A .   IVafchman. 


NEW  YORK. ::  Fleming  H.  Revell  Company  -Chicago 


M«nd,  fit  a  list  of  eontents  of  entire  serieg. 


A    LflBRARY    OI^     CRITICAL,    I^BARNING. 


j^yj:22y^  y^^^jf^^S^^ 


fRt'ofKI  Pltstffi  PREiEMi  PREStN!  Plit<;EN'i|P«r,FtiTPHtv;  NJ,5PF5tNll''RfSfNT  PRRtKl 
OAY     DAY     DAY     DAY    .OAYKDAYj  OAY.l  DAY    iftY     OAV 


LIUINGi    PAPBRS 

ON   PRESENT  DAY  THEMES. 

A  SERIES  OFTEN  VOLUMES   COVERING  A  WIDE  RANGE  OF  SUBJECTS  ON 
CHRISTIAN  EVIDENCE,   DOCTRINE  AND  MORALS. 

We  wish  to  place  this  set  of  books  in  the  library  of  every  thoughtfsl 
minister. 

The  set  cannot  but  be  desired  as  soon  as  their  worth  is  known. 

The  subjects  treated  are  the  leading  topics  of  the  day,  and  the  writers 
are  acknowledged  authorities  on  the  particular  themes  discussed. 

Note  the  remarkable  list  of  names  included  afnong  the  contributors. 

Principal  Caibns,  Rev.  James  Iveeaoh,  M.A., 

Rev.  C.  a.  Row,  A.  H.  Hayce,  M.  A . , 

W.  G.  Blackie,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Rev.  J.  Radfoed  Thomson,  M.A., 

Prebend aky  Row,  M.A.,  Rev.  William  Aethuk, 

Sib  W.  Muie, 
Rev.  a.  B.  Bruce,  D.D., 
Alexander  Macalister,  M.A.,  M.D.. 
Rev.  G.  F.  Macleae  J3.D., 
Rev.  J.  Stoughton,  D.D., 
Rev.  R.  McCheyne  Edgar,  M.A.. 
Rev.  John  Caiens,  D.D., 
Sir  J.  William  Dawson,  F.R.8., 
Rev.  W.  S.  Lewis,  M. A., 
Rev.  John  Kelly, 
Rev.  M.  Kaufmann,  M.A., 

'^  '  ^^ON  GlEDLESTONE, 

-o.,.  J  others. 

Can  you  in  any  other  shape  add  to  your  library  so  much  valuablo 
material  with  so  small  an  expenditure? 

These  have  until  lately  been  sold  at  $1.25  per  vol.,  $12.50  per  set. 
The  price  has  now  been  reduced  to  $io.oo  per  set,  and  we  make  tha 
following 

Special  Offer,  viz. :  We  will  send  this  remarkable  set  of  books  to 
any  minister  for  the  special  net  price  of  $7.50  PcR  Set. 


Rev.  Noah  Poetee,  D.D., 

Canon  Rawlinson, 

S.  R.  Pattison,  F.G.S., 

Dr.  Feiedeioh  Pfaff, 

Dean  of  Canteebury, 

Henry  Wage,  D.D., 

Rev.  W.  F.  Wilkinson,  M.A., 

James  Legge,  LL.D., 

Rev.  W.  G.  Elmslie,  M.A., 

Dean  of  Chester, 

J.  MtTREAY  Mitchell,  LL-D., 

F.  GoDET,  D.D., 

Eustace  P.  Conder,  M.A.,  D.D., 


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